In November, a small group of mountain hikers will lace up their boots in the Dominican Republic to hike to the summit of the Caribbean's highest peak, Pico Duarte, over a five day trip. This is no endurance race or record attempt. Instead, it's a mindful journey that invites participants to connect with things that matter most–like clean running water at home.
The Water For All Trek is an annual hike and fundraiser started by Continental Fresh, an importer of fresh produce with a mission to bring clean water and sanitation to rural Latin American communities. Since starting its Water For All initiative, a portion of the company's produce sales have helped to connect more than 36,700 people to clean water. The work is done in partnership with BLUE Missions, which uses 100 percent of the company's donations to build gravity-driven aqueducts that bring faucets to every home.
© Continental Fresh
The annual trek to the top of Pico Duarte complements the efforts of the company in a variety of ways. The event raises visibility for the Water For All mission and provides an opportunity to witness the impact firsthand in the communities it serves. The group spends time with rural residents who benefit from clean water and sanitation projects. They meet mothers who no longer need to walk for hours to fetch clean water, talk to children who can spend more time in school and hear from farmers who spend more of the day in the field instead of on a footpath.
As the company and its mission have grown, so has the event. The Water For All Trek brings together friends and family of Continental Fresh, along with producers, industry partners, hikers and adventurers. All of them are united by belief in Water For All and help to raise thousands for the cause. In the weeks before the five-day trip, hikers gather support from friends, family and colleagues with the help of a personalized fundraising page and resources from BLUE Missions. Everyone commits at least $750 USD. Every dollar raised goes straight into BLUE Missions water and sanitation projects.
© Continental Fresh
The hike, scheduled for November 21-25, demands effort but gives back perspective. For miles on Pico Duarte, hikers talk, laugh and enjoy the beauty of one of the most scenic spots in the Dominican Republic, though what stays with the group is the impact they've made. Trekkers often describe the experience as life changing. It's proof that small steps, when taken together, can change lives and futures for communities in need.
The trek is one way that people can take part in bringing the Water For All mission to life. Another is by looking for the Water For All label which turns shopping into progress for deserving communities.
For more information:
Continental Fresh
https://www.continentalfresh.com/
