On December 7, 2024, about 200 runners and 200 mountain bikers gathered in Outdated Fort, North Carolina, on the Outdated Fort Sturdy Endurance Pageant to run and trip for six, 12, or 24 hours to boost cash for the local people, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene in September. Whereas the occasion is now concluded, its fundraising continues, and you’ll assist help the hurricane restoration efforts by way of the tip of December through this RunSignup marketing campaign.
Outdated Fort is a small city of about 800 folks that sits only a half-hour drive east of Asheville. Most of the city’s residents misplaced their houses, and payouts from the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) max out at $42,500. Many individuals affected by the storm didn’t have flood insurance coverage, and the federal and state catastrophe funds merely aren’t sufficient to cowl their restoration. The city had by no means seen the extent of flooding skilled throughout Hurricane Helene.
This previous weekend, the out of doors group stepped in to assist by internet hosting a working and mountain bike competition. When registration opened for the occasion in early October, they offered all 425 spots in simply two days. To lift cash for impacted residents, the occasion’s individuals unfold the phrase on social networks, asking family and friends to donate by way of the RunSignup marketing campaign. Different cash got here from raffles. As this text is revealed, they’ve raised over $960,000 towards their purpose of $2 million.
[Editor’s Note: This story was first published on our sister site, GearJunkie.]
Path runners had been in excessive spirits at Camp Grier on December 7 and eight, 2024, for the Outdated Fort Sturdy Endurance Pageant. Photograph: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Assist for Small Cities
Tanawha Adventures founder and occasion organizer Brandon Thrower mentioned that small cities like Outdated Fort are in continued want of help following the hurricane: “To go to the mountains [of North Carolina], it’s important to undergo these cities,” Thrower mentioned. “These are the trailheads.” Whereas crews are working across the clock to restore the world and residents have acquired outdoors support, in some conditions, it’s not fairly sufficient. Thrower mentioned, “We simply need to make it possible for these cities and the folks that dwell in them aren’t forgotten.”
Runners had been handled to native trails and enjoyable all through the weekend. Photograph: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Because the city’s enterprise and group leaders noticed the determined want amongst their neighbors, they determined to boost cash with an outside occasion. Tanawha Adventures and Pisgah Productions — together with Camp Grier, which hosted the competition — placed on the occasion to boost cash straight for city residents who wanted additional help. In the course of the storm, the native Mill Creek rose so excessive that houses 400 ft away had been ruined, and 47 buildings had been destroyed. The flooding in North Carolina broke information throughout the state, inflicting much more destruction than the state’s Nice Flood of 1916.
Along with flooding, the storm seemingly set a document for the variety of downed timber. The highly effective rain brought on widespread mudslides, and plenty of roads will seemingly keep closed for years to come back, Thrower mentioned. “You’ll go into one holler and it appears to be like tremendous, and then you definitely go to the following one over, and it appears to be like like a bomb went off.” Thrower added, “It’s simply catastrophic.”
The Outdated Fort Sturdy Endurance Pageant showcased the native trails. Photograph: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
A Weekend of Festivities
Whereas racer entry charges lined the price of the occasion, everybody was inspired to fundraise no matter they might, with the purpose set at $1,500 per racer. For individuals who couldn’t make the occasion however nonetheless wished to contribute, there was a digital run possibility as effectively. Most of the individuals got here from close by Asheville to help their neighbors.
Along with the run, individuals had been handled to a number of extras, together with a panel dialogue with ultrarunners like Sally McRae and Anton Krupicka. The races themselves had been held on a 3.5-mile loop on native trails for the runners and a distinct eight-mile path for the mountain bikers. The middle of the festivities had distributors, dwell music, and many occurring all weekend.
The competition included an endurance panel with ultramarathoners like Sally McRae and Anton Krupicka. Photograph: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Restoration Funds
The cash raised on the competition goes straight to space residents. As soon as Outdated Fort residents submit kinds describing wants like dwelling restore, a fund supervisor evaluations the requests, handing out as much as $50,000 per particular person or household. To this point, the fund has already given about $325,000 to 11 Outdated Fort households. That features a full $50,000 to a girl who misplaced her total dwelling to Hurricane Helene.
Now that they’ve reached practically half the fundraising purpose, Thrower and different organizers are hopeful they’ll persuade companies to fill within the hole. However to this point, all the cash raised has come straight from individuals and other people like Collin Ihlenfeldt, a North Carolina resident who donated a Frameworks bike that raised $43,000 by way of a competition raffle.
“What a weekend. It’s a uncommon alternative to create an impression better than your self,” Ihlenfeldt wrote in an Instagram put up. “Witnessing dispersed communities come collectively at Camp Grier for #oldfortstrong was a really rewarding expertise; maybe a sense I’ll by no means have once more. Helene modified our lives and our panorama, however she strengthened #WNC’s resolve.”
To assist the Outdated Fort Fund attain their $2 million purpose, donate by way of the RunSignup fundraiser by the tip of December.
Vibes had been good on the competition all weekend with distributors, visitor audio system, runners, and mountain bikers. Photograph: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Name for Feedback
- Had been you a part of the Outdated Fort Sturdy Endurance Pageant? What was your expertise?
- What different Hurricane Helene aid efforts are you able to advocate to the working group?
- Has your working group been capable of contribute to vital causes in your space?