Hiking for a Charity

[Dodds1990]

April 2013 I am setting out to thru-hike the AT. I attempted a thru-hike this past year but had to get off the trail in Glasgow, VA because I ran out of money because I budgeted incorrectly. I've learned from my mistakes and I am going back out with plenty of cash to last me through Katahdin. However, I am setting out this with a bigger purpose than just hiking the AT. Turn back 2 years, my brother was deployed to Afghanistan and was wounded in combat. He received severe shrapnel wounds to the lower body and had nerve damage to in his left foot. When he returned home shortly after being wounded he received a lot of support from an organization called the Wounded Warrior Project. They saw to it that he got the treatment he deserved and he has made a full recovery. Now he is going to Green Beret Special Forces Training and who knows where else afterwards.

I am very close to my brother, so the help that the Wounded Warrior Project gave my brother effected myself and the rest of my family very deeply. The point of all this is that I want to give back to the Wounded Warrior Project for all the help and support they gave my brother. I have been thinking for a few months to hike the AT and raise money for a charity. I wanted to really think about the charity I chose because I wanted it to be something that has effected me in my life. I could've donated to a million different organizations but I want to chose the WWP.

I have a few ideas about people sponsoring me on the hike. For example, someone could donated $0.10 a mile which would approximately be $218 toward the WWP when I get to Katahdin. $0.10 is just a random number. I could be anything from a penny a mile to whatever someone wanted. I want to raise as much money as possible.

I have been thinking of ways to advertise what I am trying to do. My first idea is to post a video on my Youtube hiking channel (DDodds1990). I also am going to reach out to the local newspapers and news channels. I also have an idea to contact the owner of the casino I work at and see if I can work something out with him where he would donate a small percent of the casinos profits for one night towards the charity.

If anyone else has any ideas about how I should advertise this trip or just any ideas about the trip and what I am trying to do in general please drop me a line. Thanks everyone and happy trails!

The link to the Wounded Warrior Project's website is below:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Cheers,
Cyborg

[atmilkman]

Don't forget to try the radio stations and try printing up some flyers and putting them in storefront windows.

[WingedMonkey]

What happens if you don't make it again?

[The Cleaner]

What happens if you don't make it again?

.....+1.......ten characters

[Rocket Jones]

If you solicit milage donations, then finishing it a bonus. The farther you go, the more money you raise. There was a recent thread though discussing the danger of the charity aspect taking over the hike, ruining the fun in it because you feel compelled to keep going.

[swjohnsey]

Get the CEO of Wounded Warriors to kick in. He can probably afford it makin' $200k/year.

[doritotex]

"I ran out of money because I budgeted incorrectly. I've learned from my mistakes and I am going back out with plenty of cash to last me through Katahdin." So...you came up with a plan to "hike for charity? How much of the donations will be going to charity and how much will fund yet another attempt to be on the trail all summer?

[johnnybgood]

The donations should be handled directly through the charity so that he is out of the loop. A pledge is made in advance of his hike but no money is collected until he finishes.

[Dodds1990]

Thanks everyone for sounding so supportive. So if someone tries to do something good you automatically assume the worst? Thanks everyone

[oldbear]

Somewhere in the back of big bad head is a recollection of reading that the kind of walkathon that Dodds1990 is proposing violates the laws of the ATC.
So he may want to run it past the ATC first
He may also want to run it past the IRS to figure out what's the maximum percentage of revenue that a charity is allowed to devote to administrative costs

[Rocket Jones]

Thanks everyone for sounding so supportive. So if someone tries to do something good you automatically assume the worst? Thanks everyone

Don't take it personally. Every year there are a few people who announce "charity hikes", and upon closer inspection, one or two are scams designed to get others to pay for a hiker's vacation.

You got some good advice in reply to your question. Reread them without the chip on your shoulder and give it some thought.

[garlic08]

I hiked the AT with a partner who raised over $15,000 for two organizations doing medical research, both of which were supporting sick family and friends. All he did was send emails out to friends and family, got some free business cards on an internet deal, and talked to people along the way. He did not handle a penny, except for a few cash donations made along the way. It was an excellent experience hiking with the knowledge for that every mile we hiked, $7 was going to a good cause. Good luck with your project.

[WingedMonkey]

What happens if you don't make it again?

My question was asked in regard to your per mile to Katahdin statement.

toward the WWP when I get to Katahdin

I will say however, I am a bit confused on your statement that you now have plenty of money to finish a thru hike. It was just a short time ago that you started a thread about how bad your college loan debts were and that was what stopped your last hike.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?88270-2013-Thu-Hike-with-College-Loans&highlight=

You stated in that thread:

With that being said, I want to get back out there this year. I know I can save the money to cover the trip expenses but I won't have enough to cover the loans as well. I want to try and fund raise to cover the loan payments. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about something like this? I feel like it could work if done the right way but how?

[HikerMom58]

Oh yes, I remember, now. Great memory you have there, WM.

Still looking for ways to support your hike, Dodds1990?

[Dodds1990]

What happens if you don't make it again?

My question was asked in regard to your per mile to Katahdin statement.

toward the WWP when I get to Katahdin

I will say however, I am a bit confused on your statement that you now have plenty of money to finish a thru hike. It was just a short time ago that you started a thread about how bad your college loan debts were and that was what stopped your last hike.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?88270-2013-Thu-Hike-with-College-Loans&highlight=

You stated in that thread:

With that being said, I want to get back out there this year. I know I can save the money to cover the trip expenses but I won't have enough to cover the loans as well. I want to try and fund raise to cover the loan payments. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about something like this? I feel like it could work if done the right way but how?

So I guess you missed the part in there when I said I will have the money? I don't even need to do this, I just thought it was something nice to do. I wasn't even planning on handling the money at all. Haha it's funny, if you had cancer and I was proposing a hike to raise money for cancer research would you be saying the same thing? If you knew me you wouldn't be implying that I'm trying to scam people in giving me money.

[hikerboy57]

So I guess you missed the part in there when I said I will have the money? I don't even need to do this, I just thought it was something nice to do. I wasn't even planning on handling the money at all. Haha it's funny, if you had cancer and I was proposing a hike to raise money for cancer research would you be saying the same thing? If you knew me you wouldn't be implying that I'm trying to scam people in giving me money.

so we get a bit cynical when it comes to hiking for charity.and we always wonder whether its more about the hike or more about the charity. my own opinion is there are probably better ways to raise money off the trail than on it, but if you can successfully combine the two, well god bless. i agree any monies should go directly to the charity.and i hate to sound like some mystic on the mountain, but if thats what you really want to do, and your heart is in the right place, the way will present itself to you.
and did you really think youd get great money raising ideas here? come on youve been around here long enough.
good luck.

[WingedMonkey]

If you knew me you wouldn't be implying that I'm trying to scam people in giving me money.

I never said anything about a scam.

But if you expect to ask for charity you finances will be scrutinized here and on the trail.

You are funding a tru-hike, college loans and a charity walk all at the same time.

Expect scrutiny.

[generoll]

hey Dodds, instead of hiking why don't you get a job and donate your hiking fund to the WWP?

[Dodds1990]

hey Dodds, instead of hiking why don't you get a job and donate your hiking fund to the WWP?

I have a job...and why are people trying to make this seem like a bad thing? The money is going to go directly to the WWP. I'm hiking in the woods. It's a normal thru-hike. I'm not doing anything different from any other hiker.

[Dodds1990]

so we get a bit cynical when it comes to hiking for charity.and we always wonder whether its more about the hike or more about the charity. my own opinion is there are probably better ways to raise money off the trail than on it, but if you can successfully combine the two, well god bless. i agree any monies should go directly to the charity.and i hate to sound like some mystic on the mountain, but if thats what you really want to do, and your heart is in the right place, the way will present itself to you.
and did you really think youd get great money raising ideas here? come on youve been around here long enough.
good luck.

Thanks for the one positive feedback on here.