2024 Trail-A-Thon: Where Will Your Challenge Take YOU?

September 04, 2024
Staff
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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2024 Trail-A-Thon: Where Will Your Challenge Take YOU?

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Help the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference preserve tomorrow's trail lands by taking part in our annual Trail-A-Thon! 

 

For over a century, the Trail Conference has been dedicated to providing safe, enjoyable access to nature, and now, in 2024, our shared lands are constantly challenged by the expansion of urban sprawl, an ever-changing political climate, extreme weather events, and a growing list of harmful invasive species. With your help, we can make certain that your favorite routes into the wild are as accessible and inspiring as ever.

By participating in our Trail-A-Thon, you can directly contribute to our efforts to preserve the land you love to explore, raising funds and logging miles in support of your favorite trails. 

Our Trail-A-Thon is a month-long event open to all, regardless of experience! You can support our mission and have fun by raising funds from your circle of friends and family while exploring your favorite park, a new trail, taking a stroll around your neighborhood, or even hitting the treadmill. Set your own mileage goal and hit the trail throughout October! 

 

Registration opens on Monday, September 16th!

 

HOW IT WORKS

The minimum fundraising requirement to participate in the Trail-A-Thon is $100, which you can work to raise throughout the course of the 4-week challenge. Participants are required to pay the remaining balance not raised if the $100 minimum is not fully met by the end of the 4-week period. Credit cards will not be charged until 11/1/24.

Raising your fundraising goal** supports the Trail Conference’s vital work ensuring your safe, enjoyable access to nature. Plus, you can start collecting prizes once you’ve hit $250 raised! Along the way, we’ll share tips to help you reach, achieve, and exceed your fundraising goal. We want the Trail-A-Thon to be the “fun” in fundraising!

 

FUNDRAISING PRIZES: EVERYONE IS A WINNER!

All participants will receive a certificate of participation, a year of complimentary Trail Conference membership and a Trail-A-Thon T-Shirt at the end of the challenge.

 

To sweeten the pot, we’ve added more great prizes when you reach additional levels of funds raised:

  • $250 raised: Receive your choice of a Trail Conference map (paper or digital)
  • $500 raised: Receive a Trail Conference branded 32 oz, engraved logo Hydro Flask water bottle, plus all the above
  • $750 raised:  Receive a Trail Conference Trail Conference Long Sleeve, plus all the above
  • $1,000 raised: Receive a Trail Conference Map Poster, plus all the above
  • $1,500+ raised: Receive our complete 12 map sets (paper or digital), plus all the above

 

MILE PRIZES ~ #

All participants who accomplish 104 miles (in honor of the Trail Conference's 104th year!) by October 31st will receive a finishers medal to celebrate your amazing Trail-A-Thon accomplishment!
The first individuals to hit 25, 50, 75, 100 miles respectively will be gifted a Hydro Flask Journey Series 20 L Hydration Pack Backpack!

OVERALL PRIZES ~ #

A $150 Merrell gift card will be gifted to the top two participants with the highest total miles!

TEAM PRIZES^

Teams with the most funds raised will receive a TBD

Important Notes:
All fundraising milestone rewards will be mailed out after Oct. 31. Multiple milestones rewards will arrive in one large mailer.
~An individual can only receive one prize for the milestone mile prizes 
*Team totals are not eligible for milestone fundraising prizes, only individuals
**Setting a higher goal does not raise the $100 donation required of each participant. That means someone who sets a $1,000 fundraising goal will still only need to raise the $100 minimum. A participant's card will only be charged if the minimum $100 has not been raised by October 31. 
^ 'The Trail Conference Team’ is a general fundraising team, it is used for miscellaneous fundraising purposes for the organization and team members are not eligible for the overall milestone fundraising prize.
# Please use the 3:1 bike-to-foot ratio, meaning 3 miles of cycling is equal to 1 mile of hiking/walking/running. Bikers should adjust their mileage using the 3:1 ratio prior to uploading their activity.

Trail-A-Thon: Where will your challenge take you?
Hike, Bike, Walk, or Run to support your favorite places!

 

Comment: Please be relevant, civil, non-commercial.

Joywnc's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on Sat, 09/21/2024 - 21:50
Thank you for explaining: “Most donors give a flat amount…”. Would they pledge first and then pay at the end of the fundraising period? Or pay upfront? Also, how do i join the Trail-a-Thon? I’ve not been able to find a link or instructions. A search yielded no result. Maybe i’m just missing it somehow. Thank you.
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Joywnc's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on Thu, 09/19/2024 - 11:58
Please explain further how the Trail-A-Thon works: Do fundraisers set both a mileage and a $ goal? Do donors pledge a particular $ amount per mile we hike/walk/bike (3:1)? Or do they just pledge a total $ amount based on us reaching our mileage goal? (My apologies if it’s detailed somewhere but i have not found it.). Thank you.
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Jennifer Zack's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on Thu, 09/19/2024 - 13:00

Thanks so much for your comment and interest in the Trail-A-Thon. The Trail-A-Thon is a peer-to-peer fundraiser. The minimum fundraising requirement to participate in the Trail-A-Thon is $100, which you can work to raise throughout the course of the 4-week challenge. Most donors give a flat amount in support. Participants are required to pay the remaining balance not raised if the $100 minimum is not fully met by the end of the 4-week period. 

Raising your fundraising goal** supports the Trail Conference’s vital work ensuring your safe, enjoyable access to nature. Plus, you can start collecting prizes once you’ve hit $250 raised! Along the way, we’ll share tips to help you reach, achieve, and exceed your fundraising goal. We want the Trail-A-Thon to be the “fun” in fundraising! 

Participants set their own mileage goals. Prizes are given to to participants who hit the first 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles. Those who complete 104 miles in the four week's time receive a medal for their efforts.

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Reserve your tickets to our Annual Gala on October 17!