NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caeli Quinn, Executive Director, Climate Ride, 406.871.5477, [email protected]
33 Hikers Ascend the Trails of Glacier National Park to Raise Awareness and Funds for Conservation, Climate, and Active Transportation Causes
First Ever Climate Hike Takes Place August 24 – 28; Hikers From 13 States & District of Columbia To Participate; Local Speakers To Address Group On Issues Facing Glacier Ecosystem
WEST GLACIER, MT – August 24, 2014: The first Climate Hike – offered by Missoula-based non-profit Climate Ride – will be held August 24 – 28, 2014, and will see 33 hikers traverse the arêtes and high alpine passes of Glacier National Park over 5 days. The hike features an ecosystem most threatened by environmental degradation and climate change, giving participants a chance to see first-hand what is at stake. The hike begins August 24th at the Glacier Guides/Montana Raft Co. headquarters, which will provide expert guides on a 50-mile journey culminating with a raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
“Every day we see new environmental crises and challenges, but when Climate Hike participants realize they have the power to take action and change lives, they elevate expectations for their communities and for themselves,” said Caeli Quinn, Climate Ride’s Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This is an incredibly empowering experience to raise funds and then take on a challenge in the outdoors. An experience like this has a profound impact on people personally, and helps them to give back to their communities.”
Climate Ride has an innovative beneficiary structure, which allows participants to direct their event fundraising to the organizations of their choice. This structure allows organizations related to sustainability, renewable energy, climate and bicycle advocacy to receive funding from Climate Ride events. In 2014 Climate Ride estimates that it will grant more than $620,000 to it’s beneficiary collection which includes national groups such as NRDC, The Nature Conservancy and 350.org, and regional groups working in Montana and every major American city. A full list can be found at www.climateride.org/fundraising/beneficiaries.
About Climate Hike
Climate Hike is a charitable hiking challenge that explores the wildest national park in the United States and the first hiking event offered by Climate Ride. By fundraising and participating in the event, hikers are raising awareness of our generation’s greatest threat and have an opportunity to spend four days hiking the iconic trails on the ‘Crown of the Continent’.
About Climate Ride
Climate Ride is a nonprofit organization founded to change lives through sport and provide support for the sustainability movement. Started as a five-day bike ride from NYC to Washington DC six years ago, Climate Ride has grown into an idea catalyst and leading funder of the environmental and active transportation movement. Climate Ride has granted more than $1.5 Million since 2008 and that amount is expected to exceed $2 Million in 2014. Climate Ride now convenes four annual Climate Ride events that bring together hundreds of people to share knowledge, raise funds and advance sustainability. Climate Ride speakers have included top sustainability thinkers, eco-heroes, and policy experts.
In 2014, Climate Ride’s events include the California Wine Country Ride (May 17-20th), the Glacier Montana Hike (August 24-28th), the new Midwest Ride (September 6-9th) and the NYC-DC Ride (Sept 20-24th). Climate Ride also offers an endurance program called Independent Challenges, which empowers people to design their own events for the cause. Climate Ride events raise money for a collection of innovative organizations including 350.org, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Transportation Alternatives, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, 1% for the Planet, and more.
Climate Ride is garnering more and more attention each year including being inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame in 2012, and receiving an award in 2011 for ‘Best in Green Travel’ from leading green news outlet TreeHugger.
Climate Ride’s bike events are the first bicycle tours where pedal strokes help raise money and awareness of a future powered by renewable energy, sustainability, and a green economy. Carbon offsets, hybrid or high-fuel economy support vehicles and near zero-waste catering are a few of the innovative measures that Climate Ride has successfully implemented. The rides and hikes offer people a chance to make a difference. Each Climate Ride participant pays a registration fee of $100 and then raises at least $2800 to participate in Climate Ride’s 4- or 5-day events. Participants get to choose their own beneficiaries.
Registration for Climate Ride’s other 2014 events is open at www.climateride.org. Registration includes a personal fundraising web page, training/logistical support and access to a nationwide network of Climate Riders. The ride includes a cycling jersey, campsites, luggage transfer, road support, meals, bike mechanics, bike guides and the nightly evening program. Sponsorship opportunities are available for Climate Ride NYC-DC 2014, Climate Ride Midwest 2014, and 2015 events. For more information, please contact Caeli Quinn, Executive Director, at 406-871-5477 or [email protected].
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