Hiking "Challenge 8 Hours" – Nearly 100 People Sign Up

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

　　The China Youth Development Foundation, together with the Beijing News, jointly initiated and hosted the "Challenge 8 Hours" 2012 Charity Hiking Event, using a brand-new form of public welfare to raise funds for the Happy Reading Program under Project Hope. All proceeds will be used to build reading bases in primary schools in impoverished areas such as Haiyuan County in Ningxia and Longyang District in Baoshan City, Yunnan.

　　Beijing News Report: Walking 40 kilometers or 25 kilometers in 8 hours is no easy feat. Raising at least 600 yuan per person is even more challenging. 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 only on physical strength but also on the power of compassion.

　　Co-organized by the China Youth Development Foundation and the Beijing News, and supported by the Communist Youth League Yanqing County Committee and Operation Blessing Hong Kong, the "Challenge 8 Hours" 2012 Charity Hiking Event has recruited 2,000 caring 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 PM, nearly 100 people had signed up for the event, including 63 individuals and 7 teams, with 2,578.88 yuan in donations already received.

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

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

　　Another six were sporadic small donations under 100 yuan, such as 10 yuan, 20 yuan, and 88.88 yuan. CYDF staff stated that these donations were all raised by one registered participant, who mobilized her friends to contribute, gradually accumulating small donations of tens of yuan.

　　Everyone raises funds differently. Some pay the 600 yuan entry fee themselves in one go, while others rally their friends in small ways to pool love and support. This latter approach often brings unexpected emotional rewards to the fundraisers.

　　Launched an online fundraising appeal on July 3, raising over 600 yuan in 10 days

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

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

　　“I was actually quite uncertain before starting to fundraise,” Song said. On July 1, she saw news about the challenge on Weibo. On July 3, she officially began fundraising, promoting the cause both online and offline. She explained that she was raising money because she had signed up for the event to buy extracurricular books for children in mountain villages and to contribute her love. “It’s not about the amount, but the heart that counts.”

　　“I’m Song Zhiying, I need twenty yuan. If you’re willing to help me, please get in touch. Thank you. Accepting card transfers, Alipay, or cash.” On July 3, Song broke down the minimum 600-yuan fundraising target into 30 separate 20-yuan requests and posted this message on her Weibo. She even thanked the person who dropped 10 yuan on the ground for her and decided to donate that to the “Happy Reading” project.

　　Some friends offered their bank card details without hesitation, some slipped donations into parcels they were sending, and others drove a long way just to deliver the money in person… With each donation received, Song experienced many touching moments.

　　“Ever since I started the fundraising, I’ve kept receiving donations. It’s been quite moving.” Among the donors was a Weibo acquaintance, an 18-year-old student, who took a bus for several stops to hand Song 50 yuan in person, which deeply touched her.

　　Some friends questioned her, saying, “What’s the point of doing this? 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 donations on her Weibo, totaling more than 600 yuan. Six of these donations have already been transferred in the donors’ names to the CYDF account via the event’s official website. “Now we’ve already got over 600 yuan, and I hope to raise 2,000 yuan.”

　　Song has also set herself an exercise plan, jogging at least one hour every day. “I’ve run 10 kilometers before, but sprinting nearly wiped me out, so I’m worried about 25 kilometers—it’s quite stressful.”

　　Yesterday, as readers actively signed up for the hiking event, some netizens asked why fundraising is necessary—why not just donate money directly or donate without participating in the hike. Yesterday, Tu Meng, Secretary-General of the China Youth Development Foundation and head of the event’s organizing committee, addressed these questions.

　　Beijing News: Some netizens say it would be easier to just donate money—why do we also have to hike for 8 hours?

　　Tu Meng: "Challenge 8 Hours" is a tradition in the public welfare sector, a well-established model for mobilizing social forces. This model benefits not only the recipients but also the donors, providing them with physical exercise and mental fortitude. In Hong Kong, events like the 8-hour or 12-hour hiking challenges are common, and people immediately recognize them as fundraising efforts. But this model is still in the stage of concept cultivation on the mainland. If we keep doing it annually, people will gradually get used to it.

　　Beijing News: Why is there a minimum fundraising requirement to participate in the challenge?

　　Tu Meng: Organizing a challenge involves certain costs, which make up about 10% of the total right now. There's also the cost of supporting the beneficiaries, which is determined through calculations. You can choose not to participate in the hike and donate any amount you want. But if you want to join the hike, you have to follow the rules.

　　Beijing News: Can I just donate 600 yuan myself without fundraising from others and still participate?

　　Tu Meng: The reason I mention fundraising appeals is that there's a pattern in the charity hiking challenge—many participants who can't afford the cost on their own will reach out to friends and family for donations. This is the structure of walk-based fundraising. There's also another consideration: the essence of charity is to influence more people. In other words, if you use a fundraising appeal approach, you'll get more people to pay attention to such a project and to care about philanthropy. But fundraising appeals are voluntary and not mandatory—you can also make a one-time donation.

　　Always keep in mind: you are raising funds for rural children. Participating in the "Challenge 8 Hours" charitable hiking event can help those in need, and it is 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 contributions can help those in need.

　　● Call, email, or send 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 cause it is.

　　● At various gatherings, inform attendees that you’ve joined "Challenge 8 Hours" and ask for their support.

　　● Plan special fundraising events, such as a "Fundraising Evening," inviting friends and family to attend. In addition to raising money, this also helps build camaraderie.

　　● You can keep track of your fundraising progress at any time to show the gap between your current amount and your target, which can help motivate you. Team members should encourage and inspire 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 will definitely give it your all and finish the entire course.

　　2 Fundraising from Organizations

　　● Inform the management of your organization that you have joined the "Challenge 8 Hours" charitable hiking event and hope to receive the organization’s support through donations to sponsor employees’ participation. You can let the organization know that donations may qualify for tax exemptions, while also boosting employee morale and enhancing team cohesion. During the event, participants can carry the organization’s banner to showcase its culture and values.

　　● Seek permission from your organization to send fundraising letters to business partners or associated organizations under the organization’s name, inviting them to donate in support. This can increase your fundraising total and also help enhance your organization’s image as a community contributor.

　　● Post event posters in prominent locations in your workplace and regularly distribute promotional materials about the event to senior management and colleagues. In addition, it is recommended that some more generous colleagues fill out donation forms first, thereby encouraging others to donate similar amounts.