© Supplied by Mike Druce
Australia
Hiking for refugees
Mike Druce has successfully hiked from Mexico to Canada, raising money for refugees.
Australia
Mike Druce has successfully hiked from Mexico to Canada, raising money for refugees.
Mike Druce recently completed the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking from Mexico to Canada to raise money for refugees. Over five months, Mike walked 4,200 kilometres passing through California, Oregon and Washington on the west coast of the United States.
Along the way, Mike encountered bears, rattlesnakes, extreme terrain and intense heat, but he says the breathtaking views made the arduous journey worth it.
Mike said that while he could not compare his long walk with the journey refugees take every day in search of safety, it was important for him to use his hike to raise vital funds for refugees.
“This is an incredibly important cause and a meaningful one that resonated with me. I am acutely aware of the big challenges refugees and people who flee their homes face,” he said.
“I am lucky that I have the freedom to choose to do this long walk. So many people walk long distances with their families trying to get to a safe place, not knowing where their home will be.”
Mike’s hike unexpectedly ended on a kayak, rather than on foot, due to bushfires in Washington State. Crossing the finish line is an amazing accomplishment, as fewer than 10,000 people have completed the grueling trail.
If you’d like to help Mike reach his fundraising target, you can donate here. Your gift will support people who are forced to flee their homes and embark on long, dangerous journeys to survive.
Step with Refugees
Like Mike, you too can walk (or swim, ride or run) for refugees this November as part of our Step with Refugees challenge.
Every year, thousands of refugees are forced to flee their homes and set out on a difficult, dangerous journeys to safety.
Join the challenge alone, or team up with friends, family or colleagues, or with your school or university, to go further together.
Be part of a national movement helping people fleeing conflict and disaster. Your steps can provide survival essentials, such as tents, solar lamps and sleeping mats, for those in need.
With more than 100 million people globally displaced, your support is needed now more than ever.
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The majority of funds raised by Australia for UNHCR are directed to UNHCR’s emergency operations, providing the ready funds and resources to respond quickly and effectively in situations of crisis and disaster.