ARCTIC CHALLENGE
The time is drawing near for my 230+ mile run on the "Ice Road". This is a fundraising run for the homeless shelter in Inuvik, NWT, Canada . This is the most northern homeless shelter in North America, located 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Here, the temperature drops down to -50F during the winter and has gone as high as +50F, which is considered record high at summer. You can just imagine the need to stay warm! This small, remote community has a winter season that lasts 8 months (1 month is in complete darkness) is in need of your support. The harsh weather and modern lifestyle have made it so that some of the natives are unable to cope and must turn to the shelter for protection. Some homeless persons also struggle with concurrent mental health and addiction issues. Without the shelter these community members are put further at risk. During the 2009/10 year the Inuvik Homeless Shelter provided services to a total of 85 mainly First Nations individuals (40 Inuvialuit, 33 Gwich'in, and 12 "Other"). Due to increasing headcount and limited space, the shelter is in need of 5 twin size bunk-bed frames with mattresses. They are also in need of funds or food for a Soup Kitchen program that provides three meals per day to the Shelter clientele who otherwise do not have a method of obtaining their daily meals. The funding for this program will run out in March 2011; if they are unable to find other sources of funds they will be unable to continue with it. If you, or someone you know, can donate a bed (approximate cost $250) please click on the link below. A good way to donate the money can be to do it by the mile ($1.00/mile would equal $230). Please note that these amounts are not being mandated, any amount you can spare will be greatly appreciated. 100% of all donations go to the shelter. Here's the link directly to the donate page using Pay Pal . The "Donate" button is at the bottom of the page or you can send a cheque to the Inuvik Homeless Shelter at P.O. Box 2530, Inuvik, NT, Canada, X0E 0T0 Frozen river ice road I will be running on.
