HIKE TO HELP REFUGEES, IOWA CORRIDOR (IOWA CITY)

Summary:

The second annual Iowa Corridor Hike to Help Refugees will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 starting at the Riverside Festival Stage in Iowa City's City Park.  Participants and donors will raise funds for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide life saving shelter for refugees around the world.

The first Iowa Corridor Hike in 2007 made an impressive impact, raising $13,131.44. This amount contributed to the $26,607.80 raised nationwide by participants on 3 successful hike events.  These efforts funded 332 tents which can provide shelter for more than 1,500 persons displaced from the comfort and security of their homes by conflict and violence.

Could you imagine being forced from your own home with nowhere to go?  Make a statement that this is an unacceptable situation by contributing to the goal of raising $20,000 in the Iowa Corridor. 

Raising money as a participant could not be simpler.  Our registration process allows you to send personalized messages to people you know and each message makes it easy for a donor to click a link and donate on behalf of your hike.  

Please help by clicking one of the following links...

• I would like to participate as a hiker on May 3rd and register online.
  (Spectators not intending to hike are welcome to register and attend.)
   
• I cannot hike on May 3rd but I would like to make a donation to help provide shelter to those forced from their homes by conflict and violence.

Additional details for the day of the hike follow:

Each hiker is asked to raise $80 or whatever amount of money each individual is capable and comfortable with raising.  No hiker will be turned away based on contribution level and the most important aim is building awareness and enjoying the event.  Every $80 purchases a tent that is capable of sheltering a refugee family of five.  100% of proceeds raised by participants goes directly to the aid of refugees. 

Children aged 6th grade and younger can participate without raising sponsorship money.  All participants must register and sign a liability waiver.  Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign their liability waiver and accompany their parent or guardian during the hike.  

Participants will hike 8 miles (2 mile alternate route) beginning and ending at the Riverside Festival Stage at City Park in Iowa City.  Hikers will be welcomed back to the Riverside Festival Stage following the hike with a family-friendly celebration consisting of authentic Sudanese food, refreshments, speakers, an international fair, and live music.

All hikers are welcome and encouraged to participate in the 8 mile hike and each individual is asked to consider their own health and mobility factors when deciding whether to participate.  A two-mile alternate hike route is provided for participants not able to hike the full route.  Participants who are not regularly active are encouraged to prepare ahead of time for the physical strain of the journey.

Whether or not you decide to participate in the hike, you are still welcome to attend the celebration in City Park following the hike.

Schedule for the day of the hike:

The hike route will follow the path indicated on the map below.

Click here to view the map in its own window.

A refugee’s road can be very long.  Take steps to make it shorter.  Join the 2008 Iowa Corridor Hike to Help Refugees, May 3rd, 2008.

All donations are tax deductible. Our registered non-profit is the Hike to Help Refugees, Tax ID (EIN): 01-0850582

The preferred method for paying sponsorships is to pay electronically through this website using PayPal.  If a person would like to pay by check then checks should be made payable to:

"Hike to Help Refugees, Iowa Corridor"

In the memo or in an attached note please specify the name of the hiker the check is sponsoring.  Please mail the check to the following address:

Hike to Help Refugees
c/o: Michael Schmitz
123 Iowa Avenue, #6
Iowa City, IA 52240

Get started today by clicking one of the following links:

• I would like to participate as a hiker on May 3rd and register online.
  (Spectators not intending to hike are welcome register and attend.)
   
• I cannot hike on May 3rd but I would like to make a donation to help provide shelter to those forced from their homes by conflict and violence.

For any questions, comments, or if you have any problems with the website please email us at: iowacorridor@hiketohelprefugees.org