On December 7, 2024, about 200 runners and 200 mountain bikers gathered in Previous Fort, North Carolina, on the Previous Fort Robust Endurance Competition to run and experience for six, 12, or 24 hours to lift cash for the area people, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene in September. Whereas the occasion is now concluded, its fundraising continues, and you may assist help the hurricane restoration efforts by way of the tip of December by way of this RunSignup marketing campaign.
Previous Fort is a small city of about 800 those who sits only a half-hour drive east of Asheville. Lots 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 outside neighborhood stepped in to assist by internet hosting a working and mountain bike pageant. When registration opened for the occasion in early October, they offered all 425 spots in simply two days. To boost 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 printed, they’ve raised over $960,000 towards their objective 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 Previous Fort Robust Endurance Competition. Picture: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Support for Small Cities
Tanawha Adventures founder and occasion organizer Brandon Thrower mentioned that small cities like Previous Fort are in continued want of help following the hurricane: “To go to the mountains [of North Carolina], you need to undergo these cities,” Thrower mentioned. “These are the trailheads.” Whereas crews are working across the clock to restore the realm and residents have obtained outdoors help, in some conditions, it’s not fairly sufficient. Thrower mentioned, “We simply wish to guarantee that these cities and the those who dwell in them aren’t forgotten.”
Runners had been handled to native trails and enjoyable all through the weekend. Picture: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Because the city’s enterprise and neighborhood leaders noticed the determined want amongst their neighbors, they determined to lift cash with an outside occasion. Tanawha Adventures and Pisgah Productions — together with Camp Grier, which hosted the pageant — placed on the occasion to lift cash instantly for city residents who wanted further help. Throughout 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 doubtless set a report for the variety of downed timber. The highly effective rain triggered widespread mudslides, and lots of roads will doubtless keep closed for years to come back, Thrower mentioned. “You’ll go into one holler and it appears to be like nice, and you then go to the subsequent one over, and it appears to be like like a bomb went off.” Thrower added, “It’s simply catastrophic.”
The Previous Fort Robust Endurance Competition showcased the native trails. Picture: 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 objective set at $1,500 per racer. For individuals who couldn’t make the occasion however nonetheless wished to contribute, there was a digital run choice as nicely. Lots 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 unique eight-mile path for the mountain bikers. The middle of the festivities had distributors, dwell music, and lots happening all weekend.
The pageant included an endurance panel with ultramarathoners like Sally McRae and Anton Krupicka. Picture: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Restoration Funds
The cash raised on the pageant goes straight to space residents. As soon as Previous Fort residents submit types describing wants like house restore, a fund supervisor evaluations the requests, handing out as much as $50,000 per individual or household. Up to now, the fund has already given about $325,000 to 11 Previous Fort households. That features a full $50,000 to a lady who misplaced her whole house to Hurricane Helene.
Now that they’ve reached almost half the fundraising objective, Thrower and different organizers are hopeful they will persuade companies to fill within the hole. However to this point, all the cash raised has come instantly from individuals and folks like Collin Ihlenfeldt, a North Carolina resident who donated a Frameworks bike that raised $43,000 by way of a pageant raffle.
“What a weekend. It’s a uncommon alternative to create an affect higher than your self,” Ihlenfeldt wrote in an Instagram submit. “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 Previous Fort Fund attain their $2 million objective, donate by way of the RunSignup fundraiser by the tip of December.
Vibes had been good on the pageant all weekend with distributors, visitor audio system, runners, and mountain bikers. Picture: Steve Barker with Icon Media Asheville
Name for Feedback
Had been you a part of the Previous Fort Robust Endurance Competition? What was your expertise?
What different Hurricane Helene aid efforts are you able to advocate to the working neighborhood?
Has your working neighborhood been capable of contribute to vital causes in your space?
