KITCHENER WATERLOO – Summer is coming, and kids can’t wait! House of Friendship’s Summer Camp Sponsorship program wants to help send over 100 kids from local low-income families to camp this summer. But they can’t do it alone. They need you to join them at “Trek 4 Kids hike & bike 2009” on Sunday May 24th (the weekend after the long weekend). The Trek will get underway at 2 pm.

This fun family event starts at the Mennonite Central Committee parking lot, 50 Kent Avenue, Kitchener (the corner of Charles Street and Kent Avenue), and uses the Iron Horse and

Laurel Creek trails that run through Kitchener and Waterloo. Everyone is invited to make a personal donation or collect pledges, and trek or ride their own distance, in their own way, at their own pace.

It’s all about getting outdoors to help send kids from low-income families to summer camp, where they can learn, play and build friendships and skills for a lifetime! For anyone who has attended summer camp – you understand the transformative power of that experience and want to give every kid that opportunity.

The “Trek 4 Kids hike & bike” proceeds will benefit the Summer Camp Sponsorship program, which relies entirely on donations to send kids, ages 8-14, to local camps for weeklong summer camp experiences.

“Children that have been to camp, talk about how much they loved it. For some, this is their only chance to get out of the city during the summer,” explains Doris Martin, Family Services Program Director at House of Friendship. “We know that children at summer camps are learning vital life-skills that will make their lives healthier and happier. Some of our sponsored campers are so inspired by their camp experience that they want to give back what they have received and go on to become camp counselors themselves.”

It was Doris Martin’s two sons, Eric and Kevin, who provided the inspiration for the first “Trek 4 Kids hike & bike”. In 2005 they hiked all 850 km of the Bruce Trail, using that “Trek” to raise $24,000 to enable other kids to enjoy the outdoors. You can read their full story at House of Friendship’s newly-launched blog in support of this year’s “Trek 4 Kids hike & bike”. A link to the blog is available on the Trek 4 Kids event page at www.houseoffriendship.org.

The blog also features the “70:70 Vision” of Martin Buhr, previous House of Friendship Executive Director and proud Grandpa. In honour of his 70th birthday and House of Friendship’s 70th year of service, Buhr would like to see 70 people and teams join him on the trails this year, including his five grandchildren, ages 5-11. From their experiences, he understands the value of summer camp, and has set a personal goal of raising enough pledges to send ten other kids to camp. It costs approximately $410 to send one kid to camp. Buhr is already two-thirds of the way there.

Whether you choose to collect pledges or make a personal donation to the Summer Camp Sponsorship program, you will be helping kids from less-fortunate circumstances enjoy the experience of a lifetime. And isn’t that what summer memories should be?

To donate or get a pledge form visit www.houseoffriendship.org or call 519-742-8327. The first 50 registrants will receive complementary event T-Shirts.

House of Friendship is a charitable agency founded in partnership with local Christian churches. 2009 marks its 70th year of service to low-income adults, youth and children in Waterloo Region who are in need of support. It also promotes opportunities for personal growth, wholesome relationships and community development through the application of holistic Christian principles. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors, it serves over 32,500 people annually through 18 different residential and community outreach programs.