Tore's Pledge Form

Pledge Form

Appalachian Trail Hike

Tore Knos,  Torehike@gmail.com

I plan on hiking the 2,185 mile Appalachian Trail this year (2013) from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Kahadin, Maine.  I will begin March 22 and finish about 6 months later on or about September 15.  I will hike during the day in the mountains, cook outdoors, and sleep in a tent at night.  I will carry my own food & water and will resupply along the way.  

During my years in Rotary, I have been involved in many international humanitarian causes and   am particularly interested in health policy and implementation.  I would like to raise money for project research and development related to third world sanitation issues.  Most third world people can survive on the local water, but not if it is infected with E. coli bacteria from fecal matter.  What is the best method to provide sanitary sewage disposal?  How do you treat sewage so the E. coli dies and the sewage can becomes a major source of fertilizer for higher crop yields?

·       2.6 Billion people have no sanitation facilities and defecate on the ground

·       Feces carry 50 communicable diseases including Cholera and Hepatitis  

·       Diarrhea from feces contamination is one of the main reasons for malnourished children

·       Good latrines reduce diarrhea by 36% -- clean water by only 20%

·       Poor sanitation is linked to 25% of all childhood deaths.  Source: The Rotarian 01/2010

Though some research has been done and various solutions have been proposed, there is no central clearing house that provides a single source where the information can be accessed.  For example:  What solution is best for what countries? How is sewage treated to make it safe to use? How do you educate the local population to use proper sanitation?

I would like to use the funds raised for three causes:  

·       Create a digital clearing house for best sanitation practices worldwide

·       Provide research on beneficial uses of feces and urine in third world environments

·       Develop low cost, sanitary facilities for targeted local populations and create marketing material to promote their usage

If as little as .01 is pledged for each mile walked that would raise $21.85.  If .05 is pledged for each mile walked that would raise $109.25.  More would be greatly appreciated.  There is always the remote chance that I will not finish the trail so a bonus at the end would make me work that much harder.  The funds are going to a good cause.

______________________ pledge __________ per mile plus a bonus of ____________ for 

               (name)                              ($ amount)                                            ($ amount)

completing the Appalachian Trail for a total of _______________ when hike is completed.

                                                                              (Total $ amount)