Travelsmart
UPDATED: 12:53 p.m.
The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative has met its Canada Day goal of raising $100,000 for the development of a trail between Coldstream and Kelowna, and there’s still two more days before the July 10 cut-off.
Duane Thomson of the Rail Trail campaign says while the official count has yet to come in, the last he heard was that donors had hit the $100,000 mark.
“It’s wonderful,” Thomson said.
Thomson said the money wasn’t raised by large businesses, but by “mom and pops” donating small amounts.
The $100,000 contribution will be matched by an anonymous donor, bringing the total raised from a Canada Day matching funds challenge to $200,000.
“People got excited when they realized they could get two metres (of trail paid for) for the price of one,” Thomson said.
ORIGINAL: 11:41 p.m.
After an anonymous donor pledged to match up to $100,000 in contributions for the hiking and biking trail that will run from Coldstream to Kelowna, a local business has decided to follow suit.
Sandi and David Harder of Klub Kalamalka, an RV campground that sits directly beside the old railway corridor near Crystal Waters Road, has been in operation for the past 50 years.
The Harders are encouraging those staying at the campground to contribute to the Rail Trail, and have pledged to match up to $5,000 in donations for the cause.
“The Okanagan Rail Trail will be such a gift to local residents and tourism operators,” said Sandi. “We all need to get behind this.”
An anonymous donor recently pledged to match contributions collected before July 10, up to $100,000. for the project.
As of July 4, $42,140 had been been raised, and will be matched by the anonymous donor.
A donation of $160 pays for one metre of the 48.5-kilometre trail.
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