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Trek 4 Kids Hike & Bike
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August 10th – National S’mores Day!
Who knew!?!?! I wouldn’t say it’s reached national holiday status, yet, but there seems to be a swell of support to celebrate this classic summer camp treat. Whether you’ve got your own kids at camp, or helped to support Trek 4 Kids in order to send local kids to camp, I say, break out the  » more
Martin leads the way…again
By now, Martin Buhr is becoming a pretty familiar name in Trek circles. This year, as in previous years, he led Trekkers in collecting pledges raising over $5,000,  enough to send 12 lucky children to summer camp for a week! How’d he do it? With lots of help from his friends, especially the folks at Stirling  » more
Success in every way!
The show of support for this year’s Trek 4 Kids was overwhelming – in the best sort of way. Thanks to your generosity, you raised over $25,000 which is half way to our overall goal! With additional donations, we’re confident that House of Friendship will be sending 100 kids to camp this summer. You’re truly  » more
Everyone’s got the spirit of summer camp
John Neufeld and Robyn McArthur set the stage for today’s Trek 4 Kids hike & bike event. For Robyn, one of the PharmaTrekkers from University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy, this event bring together several passions – health, recreation… and of course, summer camp. Robyn writes: “Working as a camp counselor for 7 years, I  » more
Look who’s trekking…
With Trek 4 Kids only days away, it’s exciting to think about all of the people who have signed up to participate. There will be a lot of new faces at Trek this year, each bringing something special. Don’t let the office attire fool you. Brendan, Karl and Stephanie a.k.a. Team KPMG, are  a lean, mean  » more
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Record Trek Raises $25,000 To Send Kids To Camp
 
Thanks for joining us at the 5th annual TREK 4 KIDS hike & bike on Sunday May 16th, 2010. Blue skies, sunshine, and 133 trekkers made it an unforgettable day!
Trekkers were greeted by the Crabby Joe mascot, who treated them to some Crabby Bucks. Those biking had the opportunity to have their very own personal pit crew a.k.a. Eastside Cycle provide free tune-ups - there were several bicycles that benefited from some TLC.
Bikers were led off by Team KPMG, who successfully completed the entire 23 km bike route. Runners followed, led by House of Friendship's very own Chaplaincy Director, Michael Hackbusch, who helped one young runner complete his first ever 23 km run! Last, but not least, walkers - four-legged and two-legged - headed out behind the Live & Learn program team.
At the end of the day, Trekkers gathered for frozen treats and to share Trek memories...and there were lots of them (check out the Trek blog for photos and stories).
Thanks to Trekkers, we're over half way towards our goal of sending 100 kids to camp. All event proceeds - $25,000 - will help send more than 50 underprivileged children to camp. With additional Summer Camp Sponsorship donations, we look forward to meeting our goal of 100 kids.
This is the most successful Trek todate - double the funds raised over last year, and the most number of trekkers we've seen on the trails - thank you!! We couldn't have done it without you!
See you next year!
 
What is TREK 4 KIDS hike & bike?
In the spring of 2005, brothers Eric and Kevin Martin thru-hiked the entire length of the Bruce Trail (850 km) in 39 days and raised $24,000 for House of Friendship's Summer Camp Sponsorship Program! This program sponsors children from families living on low-income in our community to attend various overnight camps each summer. Eric and Kevin called their venture Trek 4 Kids.
Since then, House of Friendship has organized an annual TREK 4 KIDS hike & bike to help fund the Summer Camp Sponsorship program. Trekkers collect pledges (there is no registration fee), and hike, bike and run various distances along Iron Horse and Laurel Creek Trails in the heart of Kitchener and Waterloo in support of local children. We aim to send over 100 children from low-income families to camp each summer.
Why is it Important to Send Kids to Camp?
Summer camp provides children from low-income families with life-forming opportunities that they otherwise may not experience. At camp, children get to experience nature, create friendships, and develop life and leadership skills. Take for example, two brothers from the Sunnydale community in Waterloo. They attended summer camp through House of Friendship's Summer Camp Sponsorship program, which is partially funded by Trek. Thanks to the connections and experiences at Summer Camp, one of them has recently returned from Ecuador, where he did some development work, and the younger brother is now a representative for youth at the Sunnydale Community Centre.
Couldn't Join Us on the Trail this Year? Donate to Summer Camp Sponsorship.
Donations for Summer Camp Sponsorship are welcome year-round. Send your donations to the address at the bottom of this page. You can also donate electronically through Canada Helps on our Home page. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations. Thank you for helping to send kids to camp.
The View From The Trek Trail
For those of you new to Trek, the trail begins at 50 Kent Street, just past the Mennonite Central Committee parking lot. It follows the Iron Horse trail north through Kitchener to Waterloo Park. If you’re cycling or running the 23 km route, where the Iron Horse Trail ends, the Laurel Creek & TransCanada Trails pick up the route.
If you have a shorter distance in mind, you can follow the Iron Horse Trail to Sun Life Financial at Park & John and back again for a healthy 9 km route . Many trekkers choose to walk this shorter distance.There's a shorter Family Distance, approx. 5 km route , almost to City Café on Victoria and back to MCC.
Thank you!
For more 2010 Trek Day photos and stories, visit our Trek Blog by clicking on the column to the right. Special thanks once again to corporate sponsors KPMG, Eastside Cycle, Herrle's Country Farm Market, SOS Physiotherapy, St. Jacobs Printery, Crabby Joe's, Twin City Graphics, and Rogers TV, corporate donor Adventure Guide, and to prize donors Fiddleheads and Sobeys who provided gifts for the top 3 trekkers who raised the most pledges. Finally, special thanks to the many volunteers and Trekkers for their amazing efforts. The kids going to camp thank you most of all!
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