Naples, Florida, March 24, 2020- Hope for Haiti has announced the launch of their second annual virtual Hike for Haiti Challenge to take place from April 17 through May 17, 2020.
In the rural community of Marre à Coiffe, students and families climb the equivalent of 200 flights of stairs from the bottom of a mountain just to access clean water, healthcare, and education. Through the Hike for Haiti Challenge, participants can virtually hike Marre à Coiffe in solidarity with these students whether outside, in their homes or on a step-machine, all while raising funds to support education and public health initiatives across Hope for Haiti partner communities.
During this time of social-distancing, the Hike for Haiti Challenge presents an opportunity for participants to join together virtually while physically apart or while practicing social distancing. In addition to encouraging supporters to take on the hike through a walk outside or on a step-machine, Hope for Haiti is further incentivizing participants to get involved in a healthy and safe way by offering fun and unique opportunities for supporters to get active in the comfort of their own homes through live streamed hike-inspired workouts, and general wellness sessions that will be led by campaign partners and ambassadors.
The campaign is already well on its way to reach the fundraising goal of $50,000 thanks to corporate partners and high-profile ambassadors, including NHL-player Anthony Duclair and MLS-player Jozy Altidore. After scoring two hat tricks, one in a December NHL regular season game, and one in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis, Anthony Duclair unlocked an $11,000 donation courtesy of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and Enterprise Rent-A-Car for the charity of his choice. Duclair is generously allocating these funds to the Hike for Haiti Challenge.
Jozy Altidore is another generous supporter of the campaign. Altidore says, “Growing up with Haitian roots, I’m humbled by the journey and effort these students take to get to class before the textbooks are even opened, and I’m inspired by their dedication to their education and future.” The Jozy Altidore Foundation will be matching funds donated to Altidore’s campaign page up to $2,500, so contributors will have double the impact.
Additional ambassadors include Tanael Joachim, Hess Wesley, and Gary Dourdan and corporate supporters of the campaign include Citi Private Bank, A Plus Media, Classy, STAT Wellness, Yoga Home, Moffly Media, The Haitian Times, 50 Hikes Challenge, and university partners like Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and the Princeton University Men’s Rugby team.
Every $5,000 raised equips 1,000 primary school students in Hope for Haiti partner communities with all the supplies they need and health education classes on ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. To get involved, please visit bit.ly/hikeforhaiti.