Like many canceled activities throughout 2020, the Simon Kenton Pathfinders were unable to host their major fundraiser of the year — the annual bike ride — because of the pandemic.
However, representatives said Christmas came to the group a little early this year, when an anonymous donor came forward Dec. 10, offering a fundraising challenge in the amount of $3,000 to the organization to assist with the maintenance costs of the trail and equipment.
“We are a local volunteer group which built and maintains the Simon Kenton Trail. This was a wonderful Christmas surprise for our group and is greatly appreciated,” Jim Cook, SKP president.
“2020 has certainly been a difficult year for not only individuals, but many non-profit groups, such as ours, who rely on donations and grants to maintain our trail and equipment.”
Cook reports that the Pathfinders must match the $3,000 with donations from members, users, or other interested individuals, corporations, local businesses or organizations by Dec.31. Each dollar donated during this time will be matched, dollar for dollar, up the the $3,000 amount.
Donations can be sent by mail to: 2020 Maintenance Challenge, Simon Kenton Pathfinders, P.O. Box 91,Urbana, OH 43078.
Individuals also can donated online by clicking the PayPal link on the Pathfinders’ website, www.simonkentonpathfinders.org/2020-maintenance-challenge/.
The Simon Kenton Trail is a 32-mile multi-use trail that extends from the Heritage Center in Springfield to the Carter Avenue trail head in Bellefontaine. Additionally, there is a short spur from the Urbana Depot to the YMCA. The SKP has built and maintains the trail sections in Champaign and Logan Counties.
Currently, the Simon Kenton Trail connects to the Little Miami Scenic Trail in downtown Springfield. This allows users to further connect to the nearly 400 miles of dedicated bike trails in Southwest Ohio, as well as to the Ohio to Erie Trail which traverses the state, from the Ohio River in Cincinnati to Lake Erie.
The Pathfinders are an all-volunteer group, a charitable non-profit 501c3 organization, that uses 100 percent of the funds received for development and maintenance of the Simon Kenton Trail in Champaign and Logan Counties. Questions may be directed to Cook via e-mail at [email protected].