HIKING FOR DANISH AMERICA - FUNDRAISER FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS

Hiking for Danish America

May 30, 2020 11:50 AMBruce Bro (Administrator)

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 13^th, 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 29^th, 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:

• Individuals and/or organizations  can participate
• Pledge per-mile, or a fixed amount for the entire hike
• Identify which Danish American organization or combination of organizations you’d like to support.  100% of your pledge goes to the organization you choose!

What the NFDA will do:

• Track all pledges 
• Monitor the “Hiking Viking’s” progress
• Let you know when the hike is completed and how to send your funds directly to your supported organization

How we’ll make it fun and inclusive:

• Take the hike with Bruce through social media and the website
  
• Bruce will post pictures and videos as he progresses
  
• Send Bruce “hilsener” and tell everyone which organization you support and why
  
• Include your pledges on our website and weekly emails
• Promote the event and pledges on social media

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 )

• American-Scandinavian Foundation - New York
  
• Danebod Folk School - Tyler, MN
• Danish American Heritage Society (DAHS)
• Danish American Center - Minneapolis, MN
• The Danish Home of Chicago
  
• The Danish Home of Chicago Foundation
  
• Danish American Archive & Library - Blair, NE
• Danish Lutheran Church - Yorba Linda, CA
• Danish National Committee of Southern California
  
• Danish Seamen's Church - Brooklyn, NY
• Danish Sisterhood of America, Museum Archival Project
  
• Danish Windmill - Elk Horn, Iowa
• Denver Danes - Colorado
• Den Danske Klub '88 - Colorado
• Elverhøj Museum of History and Art - Solvang, CA
• Hans Christian Andersen Story Telling Center - New York
• Museum of Danish America - Elk Horn, Iowa
  
• National Foundation for Danish America
• Northwest Danish Association - Portland, OR and Seattle, WA
• Rebild National Park Society
• Scandinavian Park Inc. NFP - South Elgin, IL

Well over $20,000 in Pledges so far!!!

Tusind Tak to these individuals and families who have pledged to support Danish America!

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"