Re: [pct-l] Raising money on a PCT-a-thon

["(R.J.Calliger)" <calliger@infolane.com>]

Several femal climbers ascend Aconcagua for breast cancer
I believe.  This is no way degraded the moutain or the
trail.

Go for the pct-a-thon as long as it does not use excessive
amonts of horses/mules. <smirk>

Rich


At 3:54 PM -0800 10/17/00, Richard Winterstein wrote:
>>You are also exploiting the PCT trail for a
>>non-related profit making venture -- funding for your
>>non-profit. IMO such a commercial use of the PCT iswrong.
>>
>>John Mertes
>
>This attitude rather surprised me.  I didn't realize anyone was
>philosophically opposed to using a hike of the PCT as a kind of walk-a-thon
>to raise money for a charitable organization.  I see also that "Katt" just
>today (10/17) asked for people's opinions on this very subject.
>
>I think I understand John's point, but I really can't believe that raising
>money for an NPO is 'commerical' in the implied exploitative sense of the
>term.  To the contrary, using one's hike seems to have a number of things to
>its favor:
>*  It does not destroy or degrade the trail in any way I can perceive,
>certainly not in any material way;
>*  It could increase awareness of the PCT in a positive way.  Anywhere from
>dozens to hundreds of people may learn of the trail's existence for the
>first time, and some of these people may become eventual users and
>supporters of it;
>*  It enables the fundraising hiker to accomplish something beneficial to
>other people during the period of four or five months when they're
>essentially isolated from society at large.
>
>About the only objection I have is to soliciting funds from the people one
>meets during the hike, whether they be other trail-users or residents of
>neighboring communities.  Asking them to support you in your cause seems to
>violate the very non-mercantile air of camraderie which (at least) ought to
>prevail among fellow hikers.  Naturally, people using their hike to raise
>money for charity will want to mention their particular cause, but I believe
>there's an appropriate and inappropiate way to do this.  THe wrong way would
>be to say something like, "I'm hiking the PCT to raise money for the X
>Foundation" -- implying that you're continuing to seek funds and, say,
>couldn't you contribute a little...?  Better would be to explain that you've
>got sponsors "back home", thereby giving the sense that the fund-raising
>part is _over_ and now you're fulfilling your goal of completing the trail.
>Then if somebody wants to give money, it's strictly voluntary; there isn't
>any subtle expectation of it.  Heck, maybe even better than that would be
>not to mention your cause at all unless you fall into a long conversation
>with someone.
>
>Richard Winterstein
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