An 8-hour hiking challenge draws nearly 100 registrants

On September 8, 2,000 philanthropic individuals will gather at the Yudu Mountain Scenic Area in Yanqing to promote public welfare through the power of walking.

China Youth Development Foundation, together with The Beijing News, jointly initiated and organized the "Challenge 8 Hours" 2012 Charity Hiking Race, using an innovative public welfare approach to raise funds for the Happy Reading Program under Project Hope. All proceeds will be used to establish reading bases in primary schools in impoverished areas such as Haiyuan County in Ningxia and Longyang District in Baoshan City, Yunnan.

The Beijing News reports: Walking 40 kilometers or 25 kilometers in 8 hours is no easy feat. Raising at least 600 yuan per person adds even more difficulty. But if it were easy, it wouldn’t be called a “challenge.” Supporting rural children’s joyful reading through the power of walking relies not just on physical strength, but also on the power of compassion.

Jointly organized by the China Youth Development Foundation and The Beijing News, and co-sponsored by the Communist Youth League Yanqing County Committee and Hong Kong Action for Children, the "Challenge 8 Hours" 2012 Charity Hiking Race has recruited 2,000 philanthropic participants. On September 8, they will use the power of walking to support public welfare at the Yudu Mountain Scenic Area in Yanqing. As of last night at 8 p.m., nearly 100 people had registered, including 63 individuals and 7 teams, with 2,578.88 yuan already received in donations.

According to the rules of the "Challenge 8 Hours" Charity Hiking Race, individual participants must raise a minimum of 600 yuan to take part. Four-person teams (corporate/institutional) need to raise a minimum of 50,000 yuan to officially enter the hiking challenge.

Yesterday, reporters saw on the event’s official website that 10 donations had been received. Among them, four were 600-yuan contributions, all from participants registered for the 40-kilometer hike.

Another six were small, sporadic donations under 100 yuan, such as 10, 20, or 88.88 yuan. Staff from the Youth Development Foundation said these donations came from a single registrant who encouraged her friends to contribute, gradually accumulating small amounts of a few dozen yuan each.

Everyone raises money differently. Some pay the full 600 yuan entry fee themselves, while others mobilize their social circles in small but meaningful ways. This latter approach often brings unexpected emotional rewards beyond the challenge itself.

Posted a fundraising call online on July 3, raised over 600 yuan in 10 days

“No difficulty, no challenge”—22-year-old Song Zhiying, the fundraiser behind the six small donations, truly understands this.

Yesterday, reporters reached Song Zhiying by phone. The 22-year-old, currently unemployed, joked that she has time to come to Beijing and take on the hiking challenge.

“Before I started fundraising, I was actually quite uncertain,” Song said. On July 1, she saw news about the challenge on Weibo. On July 3, she officially began asking for donations, promoting the cause both online and offline. She explained that she was raising funds because she signed up for the event to buy extracurricular books for children in mountain villages and to show her love and support. “It’s not about how much you give, but the thought that counts.”

“I’m Song Zhiying, I need twenty yuan. If you’re willing to help me, please contact me, thank you. Accepting card transfers, Alipay, or cash.” On July 3, Song broke down the minimum 600-yuan fundraising goal into 30 separate 20-yuan asks, posting the message on her Weibo. She even posted thanks for a 10-yuan bill she found on the street, deciding to donate it to the “Happy Reading” project.

Some friends immediately offered their bank card details to transfer money, some tucked donations into packages they mailed, and others drove long distances to hand her cash in person... With each donation, Song experienced deep gratitude.

“Ever since I started registering and fundraising, I’ve been receiving donations. It’s been very moving,” she said. Among the donors was a 18-year-old student she only knew through Weibo, who took a bus for dozens of minutes just to hand her 50 yuan in person—an act that deeply touched her.

Some friends questioned her, saying, “What’s the point? It’s pointless, costing you both money and effort.” But she believes helping others brings a different kind of joy. “Public welfare is about everyone contributing a little.”

So far, Song has published over 10 donation records on her Weibo, totaling more than 600 yuan. Six of those donations have already been forwarded to the Youth Development Foundation’s account via the event’s official website, credited under the donors’ names. “Now I’ve got over 600 yuan, and I hope to raise 2,000 yuan.”

Song has also set herself a training plan, running at least one hour every day. “I’ve run 10 kilometers before, but pushing hard nearly broke me, so I’m worried about the 25 kilometers—I’m feeling quite a bit of pressure.”

As readers actively signed up for the hiking race, some netizens asked why fundraising is necessary—wouldn’t simply donating money suffice, or could they donate without joining the hike? Yesterday, Tu Meng, Secretary-General of the China Youth Development Foundation and head of the event’s organizing committee, addressed these questions.

The Beijing News: Some netizens say it’s easier to just donate money—why make people hike for 8 hours?

Tu Meng: “Challenge 8 Hours” is a tradition in the philanthropic world, a well-established model for mobilizing community support. This model benefits not only the recipients but also the donors, giving them physical exercise and mental fortitude. In Hong Kong, events like the 8-hour or 12-hour hikes are common, and people immediately associate them with charitable fundraising. But this concept is still in the awareness-building stage on the mainland. If we hold it consistently every year, people will gradually get used to it.

The Beijing News: Why set a minimum fundraising target for participants?

Tu Meng: Organizing the challenge involves costs, which make up about 10% of the total right now. Another part goes toward supporting the beneficiaries, a figure calculated based on need. You can choose not to join the hike and donate any amount you wish. But if you want to participate in the hike, you must follow the established rules.

The Beijing News: Can I participate by making a one-time donation of 600 yuan without soliciting donations from others?

Tu Meng: The reason we mention fundraising is that there’s a pattern in charity hiking challenge events—many participants who can’t afford the cost on their own will ask friends and family for donations. That’s the structure of walkathons. There’s also the consideration that the essence of charity is to influence more people. In other words, if you use fundraising methods, you’ll get more people to pay attention to such a project and to charity in general. But fundraising is voluntary—it’s not mandatory—you can also make a one-time donation.

Always keep in mind: you’re raising funds for rural children. Participating in the “Challenge 8 Hours” charity hiking event can help those in need—it’s a very meaningful thing to do. Below are some proven fundraising tips for your reference:

● Set a fundraising goal for yourself or your team.

● Carry donation forms and fundraising sheets with you so you can solicit donations from people around you at any time, and let them know how their donations can help those in need.

● Call, email, or mail fundraising letters to everyone you know, including classmates, colleagues, relatives, and friends, telling them you’ve joined “Challenge 8 Hours” and explaining what a meaningful thing it is.

● At various gatherings, tell attendees that you’ve joined “Challenge 8 Hours” and solicit donations from them.

● Plan special fundraising activities, such as a “Fundraising Evening,” inviting friends and family to attend, aiming not only to raise donations but also to foster camaraderie.

● You can keep track of your fundraising progress at any time to show the gap between your current amount and your target, using this to motivate yourself. Team members should encourage and motivate one another.

● Emphasize to potential donors: “Challenge 8 Hours” is a challenging activity that requires enduring a lot of hardship to complete. With their support, you’ll definitely give your all to finish the entire course.

2 Fundraising from Organizations

● Notify the management of your organization that you’ve joined the “Challenge 8 Hours” charity hiking event and hope to get the organization’s support by sponsoring employee participation through donations. You can inform the organization that if they donate, they may receive tax exemption benefits, while also boosting employee morale and enhancing team cohesion. During the event, participants can carry the organization’s unified flag to showcase its culture and values.

● Work with your organization to send fundraising letters to business partners under the organization’s name, inviting them to donate in support. This can not only increase your fundraising total but also help enhance your organization’s image as a socially responsible entity.

● Post event posters in prominent places in your workplace and regularly distribute promotional materials to senior management and colleagues to promote the event. Additionally, it’s recommended that some more generous colleagues fill out donation forms first, thereby encouraging others to donate the same amount.