In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the event and race company Tanawha Adventures has been moving fast to raise relief funds for those affected in Western North Carolina. The just-announced Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival is a 6-, 12-, or 24-hour mountain biking and running event set for December 7, 2024, with aims of raising two million dollars to help the local community rebuild. Read on for the event details and how to participate virtually
From the event organizers at Tanawha Adventures:
The Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival is 6/12/24hr trail run and mountain bike ride on the trails that encompass Camp Grier, right in the backyard of Old Fort, NC. The weekend will have a festival atmosphere with multiple vendors, live music, and. special guest speakers across the trail running and mountain bike world. Full schedule will be sent out soon.
The goal of this event is to raise awareness and funding for the Old Fort Strong Fund, which aims to put money directly into the hands of Old Fort residents and businesses as they rebuild their homes and repair their businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. Over 50 homes in Old Fort were either damaged or completely destroyed. Our goal is to raise a minimum of 2 million in donations for this fund to help provide relief, rebuild homes, and support local businesses that have suffered in Old Fort.
Camp Grier, Old Fort, NC
There are 400 spots (200 runner/200 riders) open for the in-person event at Camp Grier. There will will be separate loops, roughly 3 miles each, for runners and mountain bikers with a common start/finish area. If you can’t make the event in Old Fort or our physical numbers are filled, there is a Virtual option as well so you can participate anywhere across the country.
Runners and riders who sign up also agree to become a fundraiser and seek out donations from their networks. As soon as you register, an individual fundraiser page will be created for you in runsignup that you can share within your network to seek out donations. Each participant’s goal is to raise $1,500 minimum for the fund. We know this is big goal, but as endurance athletes, community and trails are what really bring us together! Let us show how strong that community really is and help rebuild homes in Old Fort, NC!
Prizes packages from our sponsors will be given to those who go above and beyond the minimum fundraising amount. There will be a prize package given out for those raising $5,000+ prize and $10,000+.
