MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TEAM ACCEPT THEIR € 100 PRIZE , WHICH THEY CHOSE TO DONATE TO MAMABABY HAITI
FORTY-SEVEN COMPETITORS PUT IN REAL KILOMETERS IN A COMPETITION ACROSS EUROPE
MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TEAM ACCEPT THEIR € 100 PRIZE , WHICH THEY CHOSE TO DONATE TO MAMABABY HAITI
PHOTO BY MELISSA AZIZ
A SPRING CHALLENGE TO REMEMBER by Hannah Bergland , Spring Challenge Coordinator
This is the third year the AWCH has offered the Spring Challenge , a fun , virtual , wellness competition . After two years of running between America ’ s national parks , for 2023 we switched to our own continent for “ AWCH Every Kilometer Counts : European Edition . “
Michaela , Susan , Diana , Meredith , Mason Jane , and Jordan .
Now for the winners ! Although it ’ s a team competition , we want to acknowledge the top three competitors who traveled the longest distances .
This year , there were two teams totaling forty-seven participants : Team Helena Lange and Team Lida Gustava Heymann — both teams named after feminists in Hamburg ’ s history . Each team traveled 8,230 kilometers ( about twice the width of the United States ) and virtually visited eighteen national parks all over Europe .
The trail started in Ireland , then crossed into Great Britain and Scandinavia , then down through portions of eastern Europe , and back to Germany .
At each stop , an AWCH member or friend lovingly researched and composed short narratives about the history , topology , ecology , and other fascinating facts from each of these national parks . Without these volunteers , this Spring Challenge would not have been possible . A hearty thank you to everyone who contributed : Holly , Sara N ., Stephanie , Regina , Hilary ,
FORTY-SEVEN COMPETITORS PUT IN REAL KILOMETERS IN A COMPETITION ACROSS EUROPE
In third place was Holly Todd with 725 kilometers ; second place was the son of Hilary Wang , Julian , with 751 kilometers . And first place goes to Jim Allen and his biking mania with 1,176 kilometers !
It was an intense finish this year , with the teams racing neck-and-neck toward the end , but , ultimately , Team Helene made a brazen sprint for the finish . Congratulations , Team Helene !
This year ’ s prize was 100 euros to donate to any organization . Team Helene decided to dedicate the funds to a non-profit called MamaBaby Haiti , whose goal is to lower the maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Haiti , one mother and baby at a time . Thank you to our anonymous donors for the prize money !
Next year we plan to hit some of the most famous national parks in Europe , and we hope you will join us !
CURRENTS 19