Back by popular demand!!!!
Yes, The H.I.K.E. 2024 is ready to go…as soon as June arrives.
Why do we do this?
Simple. The funds raised are used to help more students overcome the generational curse of poverty and ignorance. Your contribution will help rewrite a kid’s future!
Who are we helping?
Kids. 7 to 18 year-old kids. Kids living in some of the nastiest conditions we’ve ever seen, and will be stuck there unless something changes. For 2024 we have 160+ students we hope to help.
What is the change?
Education. Sounds simple since in most countries a kid getting an education is part of everyday life. Not for Roma (gypsy) kids. The generations before them have had little to no schooling, and the results show in their desperate lifestyles. Education can be the catalyst to start cycles of generational success.
How do we do this?
Propel supplies textbooks, school supplies, sneakers for PE, eyeglasses, whatever these impoverished kids need to attend school. It seems simple, trust us, this is life-changing!
How can you help?
Well, this is a fundraiser. We are, well, raising funds….as in money…for the textbooks and school supplies and other things the kids need to go to school.
So…the next step depends on what type of helper you are…
- Are you a “I love to support events with a special now donation” kind of person? Great. You can do that right here>>> Donations!
- Are you “I love to support things over the long haul to make a bigger impact” kind of person? Super!! You can sponsor a student>>>Choose your student here
- Are you someone who loves to involve their friends in a spirit of combined generosity? Check out how you can make this happen>>Hike Helpers
If you are interested in a bit of background info….
So, just what is The H.I.K.E. ? This is our annual fundraiser. A long-distance trek over the mountains and through the woods. All done to raise awareness of the plight of Roma and other kids living hand-me-down lives. It all started in 2018….fade out and play chimes as we go back in time….
2018 – The H.I.K.E. is born out of a crazy idea based on an off-the-wall suggestion. It has gone from being a bit of lunacy to the inspiration for a fund-raising event so big it needed the width a whole country to make it possible. So we hiked across the breadth of the England following Hadrian’s Wall Path.
2019 – We had to top 2018, so decided to walk around a whole country. Yep. We circumhiked The Isle of Man, which is a unique political entity, technically, its own nation.
2020 – Found the planet in a bit of disarray and travel was restricted. The H.I.K.E. stayed local (Serbia) and was a valiant effort to cover the 50km of the Fruška Gora National Park all in one day. Due to multiple toe-related injuries (ending up with losing 8 toenails) the trek was halted at 36km.
2021 – New horizons called and Scotland was the backdrop to The H.I.K.E. The Great Glen Way took us from Fort William to Inverness (no sign of the Loch Ness Monster)
2022 – Found our team once again circumhiking an island. This time it was the Isle of Wight. It was the last hike for Mike Turner, who had been on every other UK excursion. He will be missed.
2023 – With an imported hiking partner from the US (Thx CA!!!) we took on the West Midlands of England. Five days around the beauty of the English countryside complete with curious cows and sneaky sheep, and many, many canal paths.
2024 – Oh…this is going to be fun! The imported hiking partner from 2023 suggested we take on a challenge in his part of the world. So, in June we will be taking on the Lake George 12ster Challenge. As the name implies, we will hiking up and down 12 peaks in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains adjacent to Lake George NY. You can follow the fun on Facebook.