HIKING FOR DANISH AMERICA - FUNDRAISER FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS
Flashback to the week of March 8, 2020:
-The World Health Organization declares the corona virus outbreak is a global pandemic.
-Hundreds of schools and thousands of businesses close.
-Wall Street suspends trading twice and on Thursday, the DJIA drops 10%.
-The MLB, NBA and all NCAA sport seasons are canceled.
-Music concerts and special events are being canceled around the country.
-Friday the 13th, it suddenly hits home. Our April Rebild conference is canceled.
Having spent months helping plan this event and looking forward to welcoming so many to Arizona, I was stunned by the news. Soon, events were canceling daily across Danish America. The following week, I canceled the family tour I was leading to Denmark. Everyone was in lockdown…isolated at home.
During the lockdown I took to the hiking trails near my house in north Phoenix. For many years I have been an avid hiker; it was so good to get out of the house and stretch my legs. On one of those hikes, I started thinking about backpacking a trail that has been on my bucket list a long time…the Colorado Trail. From Denver to Durango, it winds its way for 500 miles through some of the most scenic mountain landscapes in America. I thought, “This is the time.”
Climbing the trails has always brought me inspiration. As I ambled along, drafting my Colorado Trail itinerary, it hit me, “Why not make this a fundraiser for Danish America?” I brought the idea to the rest of the board of the National Foundation for Danish America: Katrine Vange, Linda Steffensen, and Karin Wasler. They agreed and helped plan it. Now it’s set.
COVID-19 has taken its toll on us in many ways. Danish American organizations have been hard hit financially with event cancellations, and they see their revenue and funding sources beginning to dry up. We would like to help turn that around. Together, we can all make an impact.
It’s simple… First, pick your favorite Danish American organization. Next, pledge either per mile, or for a set amount for the entire hike. When I complete the trip, we’ll send you a notice, post it on Facebook and on our website. Finally, you send your pledge directly to your favorite organization. They receive 100% of the proceeds.
Until then, I’m getting ready, hiking as much as I can! Starting June 29, we will share the fun by posting progress reports, photos and videos from the trail to our website and Facebook page. I should arrive in Durango, Colorado in mid-August, six weeks and 500 miles later.
Won’t you please make a pledge? Your favorite Danish American organization needs your help! Find the link to the pledge form at www.DanishAmerica.org then, follow the “Hiking Viking” on the Colorado Trail!
Tusind Tak Bruce
This summer, let’s raise funds for our Danish American organizations! Sponsor Danish America’s “Hiking Viking”, NFDA’s president, Bruce Bro, as he traverses the 500-mile Colorado Trail.
In the National Foundation for Danish America’s weekly emails, you’ve seen the widespread cancelling of every major event in our Danish American world. It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on organizations across the country. Across Danish America donations are down. The NFDA is here to help the “down” go “up”.
Enter the “Hiking Viking”! Starting June 29th, Bruce Bro will traverse the 500-mile Colorado Trail for six-to-eight weeks from Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver, to Durango. He will navigate to 13,271 feet above sea level and keep above 10,000 feet for most of the trail.
You can help Danish America as Bruce clocks miles . Here’s how:
What the NFDA will do:
How we’ll make it fun and inclusive:
Oh -- if you’re skeptical about Bruce’s ability, don’t be. He can do it – he’s hiked the Grand Canyon, rim-to-rim, reached Mt. Everest’s Base camp in the Himalayas, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, and climbed the highest peaks in the U.S.!
Please join us to raise funds for Danish America! Let us know that you’re interested in being a part of Project “Hiking Viking”.
Tusind tak, The NFDA Board Karin Schoen Wasler, Linda Steffensen, Katrine Vange, Bruce Bro
Submit Your Pledge Here
NFDA Facebook Page
Benevolent Mountaineer Hikes For Danish America - by Barb Ceruti
Participating Organizations: (To add your Danish American non-profit club or organization, please email us at info@DanishAmerica.org )
Well over $20,000 in Pledges so far!!!
Tusind Tak to these individuals and families who have pledged to support Danish America!
Danish Sisterhood of America for the Museum Archival Project
Beth Bro-Roof
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
National Foundation for Danish America
Museum of Danish America - Elk Horn, Iowa
Joanna Christensen
Castle Rock
Colorado
Danish Windmill - Elk Horn, Iowa
Danish American Archive & Library - Blair, NE
DSS Ellen Lodge #21, Denver CO
Den Danske Klub '88 - Colorado
Denver Danes - Colorado
Karin Wasler
Los Angeles
California
Danish Sisterhood of America
Frank and Edith Christensen
Shoreline
Washington
Northwest Danish Association - Seattle, WA
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Audubon IA
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Audubon IA
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimballton IA
American-Scandinavian Foundation - New York
Den Danske Pioneer
Rebild Natl Park Society
Lydia Plunk
Diamond Bar
Danish Lutheran Church - Yorba Linda, CA
Christine Lundsberg Geiger
Buffalo Grove
Illinois
Elizabeth, Linda and Elsa Steffensen
Hoffman Estates
Danish American Heritage Society (DAHS)
Elsa, Linda and Elizabeth Steffensen
Linda, Elsa and Elizabeth Steffensen
Danish Home Foundation of Chicago
HANNE BEUBE
Burr Ridge
Danish Home of Chicago
Nike Whitcomb
Chicago
Gerry Henningsen
Monument
Peter Orum
St. Charles
Paul Roge
Grayslake
Kent and Connie Hanson
Glendora
Anne Grethe Nielsen
Yorba Linda
Danish Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda
Arne Brinkland
Chino Hills
Danish Lutheran Church, LosAngeles
Linda
Joy Duling
Bartonville
NFDA
Some of Bruce's past hiking adventures...
2008 - Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. (Photo at right - he claimed the mountain for Denmark!) 2013 - Mt Everest Base Camp, Nepal 2013 - Mt Whitney, highest peak in lower 48 states 2016 - Grand Canyon Arizona Rim-to-Rim Over many years - 20 of Colorado's highest peaks "The 14ers"
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