With the recent opening of the Hayden Home for Girls, organizers of the annual Trek fundraiser for St. Joseph Peace Mission decided to move the route to downtown Owensboro to celebrate the Owensboro campus. Participants now will begin and end the race, which is June 13, at the campus, which allows the community to see the three children’s homes that are part of the St. Joseph Peace Mission.
“It will kind of be like putting a face with a name,” said Development Director Bryson Morrow.
The trek became a charity event more than 20 years ago when David Yewell chose to walk from the Calhoun riverfront to his home in West Louisville. After a few years, he invited friends to join him and they decided to turn the event into a charity event.
The new route for the Trek XXIII will be 11.77 miles that will start at the St. Joseph Peace Mission at 1328 West 3rd St. From there participants will travel through Bon Harbor Hills and travel around Ben Hawes Park before heading back to the campus.
The family-friendly, non-competitive event is open to all ages, and participants can walk, run or bike the course.
Morrow said they are anticipating an increase in participation due to the location and also the date change. The race has previously been held the second Sunday of June, but the decision was made to move the Trek XXIII to a Saturday to allow more families more of an opportunity to attend.
“We don’t want to make people choose between church or the Trek,” he said.
After the event, participants used to gather for lunch and camaraderie at the Yewell family home, since the course ended there, but with the change in location, lunch will be served at the campus.
“There will be no change in the Yewell Family involvement. In fact, this move is highly supported by us in that it provides continuity for the future as our campus further develops and evolves to help our children,” Yewell said.
The 2019 Trek XXII raised $50,000 which went to St. Joseph Peace Mission. The money is used to provide a safe home for more than 250 at-risk youth and families served by St. Joseph Peace Mission. The proceeds help offset the costs from the 24/7 facility.
A donation of $25 is encouraged but not required to participate in the event. Registration is available on the St. Joseph Peace Mission website, and participants may also register the day of the event, at which time a T-shirt in the participant’s preferred size cannot be guaranteed.
To get the latest news and updates on registration, follow the mission’s Facebook page.
