Cross-Country Expedition Seeks to Help America's Rivers

(Traverse City) – Two businessmen will take time off from work to bicycle, hike and kayak across the United States beginning late this summer, to raise awareness and funds for restoring and protecting America's rivers. Jeff Graft, a 34-year old Regional Manager of Pirates' Cove Adventure Golf of Traverse City, Michigan and Matt Brown, a 33-year old former fly fishing shop owner and professional river fishing guide from Salida, Colorado, will travel over 5,000 miles to help support the habitat improvement and erosion control efforts of the Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) and the American Rivers organization.

"Everyone can't leave their work to pursue a cause, but Matt Brown and I believe the rivers in America are too endangered to be ignored," said Jeff Graft. "We also want to show that conservation efforts don't have to be built upon increased regulations or lawsuits, but can be built upon a better understanding of the consequences of our interaction with nature."

The 4-month long cross-country trek, called the "National River Care Expedition," will begin in Bella Bella, British Columbia on August 15 and end in Key West, Florida, on or about Christmas Day this year.

Both the CRA and American Rivers are confident many corporations will join others already donating toward the event because nearly two-thirds of Americans, approximately 130 million consumers, report they would be likely to switch brands (65%) or retailers (61%) to one associated with a good cause (Cone/Roper report 1999).

Current contributors include: Cabela's, Coca Cola (Dasani, Powerade), Coleman, Exstream, GoLite, Harmony, Meijer, Perception (Kayaks) and Stren (Remington Arms).

The River Care Program managed by the CRA and conducted in Northwest lower Michigan (a nationally recognized water recreation destination) and programs from the American Rivers Foundation, collaborate with local citizens, businesses and governmental agencies to build partnerships for improving water quality, conserving soil, preventing erosion and enhancing wildlife habitats.

For route and additional information about the "National River Care Expedition" and the organizations it will benefit, contact the CRA by E-mail: cra@traverse.com or phone: (231) 946-6817. Web sites: http://www.rivercare.org or www.amrivers.org




This article courtesy of http://bicyclelive.com.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author
name and URL remain intact.

Submit Your Article