Trek 4 Kids Hike & Bike

2013 Trek 4 Kids hike & bike - SATURDAY (new day!), May 4, 2013

Plans are well underway for the 2013 Trek 4 Kids hike & bike in support of sending kids from families with a limited income to summer camp. KPMG is back as Presenting Sponsor, leading the way, and volunteers are busy putting the finishing touches on event-day details. Round up your family, friends, and team to sign up for a great afternoon on the Iron Horse trail, and download your Trek pledgeform today.

Proceeds will sponsor children from families with a limited income to attend summer camp; the more pledges we raise the more kids can go to camp – our goal is 100 children. On average, it costs about $500 to send a child to overnight camp for a week. Consider being a Champion Trekker by raising enough pledges to send one child to camp. Or set your own goal. We encourage each student to raise a minimum of $25 in pledges and adults $50 each, but whatever amount you raise, every bit will help bring a kid closer to camp, and all are welcome at Trek 4 Kids 2013.

Last year, blue skies and the sweet sounds of summer, courtesy of Acoustic Steel, welcomed over 150 trekkers and volunteers to the 7th annual Trek 4 Kids hike & bike in support of Summer Camp Sponsorship. As families, friends and teams gathered, some got a free bike tune-up from our friends at EastSide Cycle; others grabbed a snack and watched the EastSide Cycle Trek team perfrom some crazy bike stunts, wowing Trekkers. It was a perfect day! Trekkers of all ages hiked, biked and ran the Iron Horse Trail to send kids from low income families to summer camp.

Once again, the Buhr clan, below, led the way, raising enough funds to send 20 kids to camp! Rumour has it the Borden Babes, also below, are hot on their trail for next year's Trek. Together with other Trekkers, they helped raise over $35,000; that's equivalent to 70 kids going to camp. Another 30 were sponsored by direct donatons to the Summer Camp Sponsorship program, bringing to 100 the number of children who will have the opportunity of a life-time.

Special thanks to venue host, Braun's, Trek Sponsors, Trek Camp Fire Friends, volunteers and Trekkers for making it a summer to remember for some amazing kids. See you SATURDAY May 4th for the 8th annual Trek 4 Kids hike & bike!

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. Mail your donations to the address at the bottom of this page OR you can donate electronically through Canada Helps on our Home page (select Summer Camp Sponsorship Fund). Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations. Thank you for helping send kids to camp.

The View From The Trek Trail

The trail begins at Braun's Cycle at Borden Ave. S. and Nyberg St., Kitchener. 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 Cafe on Victoria and back to Braun's Cycle.

 

For 2012 Trek Day photos and stories, visit our Trek Blog by clicking on the column to the right. Special thanks once again to Presenting Sponsor, KPMG; Torch Bearer sponsors -Herrle's Country Farm Market, SOS Physiotherapy, St. Jacobs Printery; Camp Buddy sponsors - Adventure Guide, Crabby Joe's; Media sponsor - Rogers TV; and, Camp Fire Friends in-kind sponsors: EastSide Cycle, Frog Box, Sustainable Waterloo Region, Twin City Graphics. Finally, special thanks to the many volunteers and Trekkers for their amazing efforts. The kids going to camp thank you most of all!