OMAHA-WABASH TRACE NATURE TRAIL HIKE
Come join us for the 7th Annual Hike to Help Refugees in 2009 benefiting the
UN Refugee Organization
Choose one of 3 hike options:
- One-day Hike – join group for any one day on your own or, part of a
team.
- Weekend Hike – May 23 & 24.
- Week Hike – May 23 to 30.
Hiking schedule and mileage:
Saturday, May 23 (7 miles)
The hike will begin in Omaha on May 23rd at Miller’s Landing at 10 a.m.
- Hikers will proceed across the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge along the
Iowa River Front Trail to the Iowa Historic Trails Center.
- A mid-Hike ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m.
- Please bring a sack lunch to enjoy for lunch
- Hikers will then continue to the Wabash Trace Trailhead in Council
Bluffs or return to Miller’s Landing.
Saturday, May 23 & Sunday, May 24 (20.10 miles)
Everyone walks together on the one day route. On the second day hikers
will proceed to Mineola, Iowa on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
Saturday, May 23 – Saturday, May 30 (72.8 miles)
5/23
Omaha to Wabash Trace Trailhead in Council Bluffs (10.5 miles)
5/24 Council
Bluffs to Mineola, Iowa (9.6 miles)
5/25 Mineola to Malvern, Iowa (12.3
miles)
5/26 Malvern, Iowa – rest day (0 miles)
5/27 Malvern to
Imogene, Iowa (13.6 miles)
5/28 Iogene to Shenandoah, Iowa (8.9 miles)
5/29 Shenandoah to Coin, Iowa (12.5 miles)
5/30 Coin to Blanchard, Iowa
(5.4 miles)
Camp sites will be detailed in hiker’s packet.
Who Are Refugees?
Refugees are legally defined as
people who are outside their countries because of a well-founded fear of
persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or
membership in a particular social group, and who cannot or do not want to return
home. As a humanitarian, non-political organization,
UNHCR works to protect refugees and to seek ways to help them restart their
lives in a normal environment.
What is UNHCR?
The United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees provides protection and assistance to more than 30 million people
around the world.
- Short-term help:
UNHCR provides lifesaving
assistance in the form of water, shelter, emergency food and health care
- Long-term help:
UNHCR provides protection for
refugees in their country of origin, helps refugees resettle in a safe
country, and helps refugees return to their homes when it is safe to do so.
UNHCR is the only organization with an international mandate to protect
refugees. In addition to coordinating activities of other aid organizations,
UNHCR works to ensure that governments abide by the 1951 Geneva refugee
convention provisions. UNHCR has twice won the Nobel Peace Prize for its
humanitarian efforts. Learn more by visiting their web site,
www.unhcr.org.
To learn how thousands of American citizens are helping, visit the USA for
UNHCR web site at: www.usaforunhcr.org
A well-marked trail, cheerful company, plenty of food and water, a relaxed
pace, no threat of violence and the assurance of the comforts of home at the
end of the trail... these are the realities of the Hike to Help Refugees.
Hikers are on the trail to help refugees whose reality is the exact
opposite.
How can I participate?
You can be a hiker, a sponsor, or both!
Hikers:
- Recruit financial sponsorship. (See below)
- Send in your Hiker’s Fee (see below) and your sponsors’ checks with
your registration form by May 9.
- Be prepared for a strenuous hike. Train in advance!
Sponsors:
If you cannot hike but wish to be a
sponsor, check the line on the form, send your check (made out to Hike
to Help Refugees), and we’ll provide the hiker!
Day hikers and week-end hikers:
Pre-register by
the end of the day on May 15th and receive a free t-shirt! You may also register at the event.
Week hikers:
Registration deadline is May 9th. A
free t-shirt will be part of your hiker packet.
What is the Hiker’s Fee?
The Hiker’s Fee covers
some of the food costs and administrative expenses for the hike. There
is no cost for grade school or preschoolers.
The Hiker’s Fees are:
- $150 per person for the week-long trip
- $ 50 per person for the weekend;
- $ 25 per person for day hike.
Southwest Iowa Trails, Inc. has graciously waived the trail pass fee.
Hiker's Fee checks are made out to Hike to Help Refugees: Adm
K. Weiland
The men, women, kids, babies and dogs who participated in the 2004
hike had a great time!
What is my sponsorship obligation?
Hikers are
providing all season tents for refugees in Afghanistan and Darfur. One
tent provides shelter for five and costs $80. Our goal for the 2009 Hike
is 1,250 tents or $100,000. With your help we can do this!
Minimum sponsorship required per adult hiker is as follows:
All week Hike 7 tents ($560)
Weekend Hike 2 tents ($160)
One-day Hike 1 tent ($80)
All sponsorship checks are tax deductible and should be made out to
Hike to Help Refugees. 100% of your donation will go towards providing
tents for the refugees.
So you’ve decided to participate!
Congratulations! Now you need to register and get busy finding sponsors. Organize a team and try some group
fundraising to cover your sponsorship obligations!
Take the first step now and get registered for a hike. The following
are your options for getting registered:
Contact information:
Hike to Help Refugees
P.O. Box 212
Pacific Junction, IA 51561
Phone: Betsy (402)
334-2147
Email:
betsypepperkallstrom@hiketohelprefugees.org
Day hikers:
Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle and sack lunch.
Week-end hikers:
Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, sack lunch
and over-night
camping gear.
Week hikers:
A hikers guide with campsites, route, pack list etc., will
be provided when registration is received. Be sure to register by
May 9th.
How do I find sponsors?
- Be creative and don’t give up!
- Do your homework first so you’ll be able to explain UNHCR’s
work to prospective
contributors. More information can be
found at www.usaforunhcr.org.
- Tell your sponsors that their gifts are tax-deductible.
- Try these possibilities:
- Friends, family, neighbors
- Employers and coworkers
- Organizations you belong to
- Your physician, dentist, optometrist,
attorney, insurance agent, veterinarian, telephone company, etc.
- Your house of worship
- Stores you frequently shop at (grocery,
clothing, sport, etc.) locally and via the internet.
- Service providers such as barber,
hairdresser, babysitter, mechanic
- Restaurants you patronize
- Hold a garage sale
The Hike to Help Refugees is now USA for UNHCR’slargest grass roots
fund raising project in the U.S.
Thank you for your
support!
Take the first step now and get registered for a hike. The
following are your options for getting registered: