'All Trails Challenge' Raises $29K For Friends Of The Wissahickon

The second annual All Trails Challenge fundraising event from the Friends of the Wissahickon was a huge success, eclipsing the first challenge in both miles tracked and money raised, according to the group.

The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) said the second annual challenge generated $29,000 and participants tracked 13,000 miles over three months of hiking, biking, running, and riding in Wissahickon Valley Park.

Last year, the event raised $25,000 and participants only tracked 5,000 miles, the FOW said.

From Sept. 7 to Nov. 8, park users were tasked with exploring all 50 miles of the park's trails, spurred on by the friends, family, and coworkers who sponsored them.

Challenge winners include:

• Gene Bishop – Top Individual Fundraiser, with $3,200
• PC Hikes – Top Team Fundraiser, with $1,532.50
• Josh Hibbs –Top Mileage, with 470 miles

"FOW is grateful to everyone who participated as a Challenger or a sponsor," Maura McCarthy, FOW executive director said. "We can’t care for the Wissahickon without your support."

McCarthy led several hikes herself during the challenge to help participants reach their 50-mile goal, according to the group.

All funds raised by the challenge support FOW’s ongoing work in Wissahickon Valley Park to restore historical park structures, eliminate invasive plant species, monitor watershed managed issues, and restore trails.

2017 All Trails Challenge sponsors include Chestnut Hill Hospital, Old York Advisors of Raymond James, Kouvenda Media, Aqua America, Machinery, McFarland Tree, Landscape & Hardscape, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, with additional support from Earth, Bread + Brewery, Devilfish Ink, Skytop Lodge, Weavers Way Co-op, and Wissahickon Brewing Co.

Paul Daniels racks up miles with daughter Addy, 3, during Friends of the Wissahickon's 2017 All Trails Challenge. The Goodner-Daniels family participated on Team PC Hikes, which finished as the Top Team Fundraiser, with $1,532.50 raised toward Wissahickon Valley Park preservation.

Image via Friends of the Wissahickon