Image Credit: Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative
June 28, 2016 - 3:14 PM
OKANAGAN - A patriotic donor is celebrating Canada, and its beautiful outdoors, by offering to match donations to the Okanagan Rail Trail from July 1 to July 10.
The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, will match donations up to $50,000, fundraisers from the trail initiative say in a release.
“My donation will build just over 300 metres of trail and by working together, we can create over 600 metres. That’s a better part of kilometre,” the donor says.
Trail ambassador Brad Clements is excited about the news and says to date, the campaign has received 266 individual donations, with 905 metres of trail funded.
“Donations have been coming in every day and the support is fantastic. If we want construction to start early next spring however we will need a lot more and this just might inspire that,” Clements says.
Trail ambassador Duane Thomson sees momentum building.
“In the last few weeks trail ambassadors have talked with over 30 businesses, clubs and service groups that are interested in become campaign partners and business partners. There are also 35 trail ambassadors getting ready to help spread the word this summer,” Thomson says.
The goal is to raise $7.86 million for the construction of the 48.5-kilometre trail, which runs from Vernon to Kelowna.
“Campaigns of similar amounts have been raised in the Okanagan in the past and I believe our communities can rise to this occasion,” trail ambassador Laurie Postill says. “If we all give what we can towards the trail and inspire our friends, family and co-workers to do the same, we can build our trail and enjoy this incredible property. Together we can create this legacy for our communities.”
Local municipalities bought the corridor from CN Rail for $22 million, and the Okanagan Rail Trail group has committed to fundraising $7.86 million to build the trail.
To make a donation, click here, or visit the North Okanagan Community Foundation or the Central Okanagan Foundation. Every $160 donated funds a metre of construction. The campaign is also looking for trail ambassadors, campaign partners and business partners to help inspire donations. For more information click here.
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