Basic Information Packet

Transcription

1 Running Adventure 2018 Basic Information Packet Dear potential trip participant, Want to use your fitness to help make a difference in the world? Then join Health Bridges International and the Running Cuy for the trip of a lifetime in 2018! The Running Adventure trip will combine health and social outreach activities with a mountain running camp in the beautiful Andes mountains of Perú. Our goal is to meld our love for trail running and our passion for service. We plan to have amazing experiences running on some of the best trails in the world and do some really great service learning work with formerly homeless boys at an orphanage in the Sacred Valley of Cusco. This is the trip of a lifetime. Health Bridges International (HBI) is partnering with one of Perú s top trail runners, the Running Cuy - Diego Casabonne, to plan and execute a true adventure. We will be running on the ancient Inca trails of the Sacred Valley in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. And, we will be helping with a number of social outreach projects for a home for abandon boys. The following packet provides most of the information you need to join the adventure. However, if you have any questions about cost, running expectations, or anything related to this experience - don t hesitate to contact us (info@hbint.org). If you wish to participate, plan to arrive in the City of Lima no later than Friday, October 26. We will fly to Cusco and on to the Sacred Valley on Saturday, October 27, and return on Friday, November 2. Plan to travel back home (or on to an excursion trip) on Friday night or Saturday, November 3. For now, start training and send in your application. We look forward to sharing this adventure with you - The HBI Team 1

2 Cost of the Trip Item Cost Information Basic Trip $1,500* The trip includes: A fully guided running adventure trip and social impact outreach experience with accommodations, in-country transportation, most meals, training foods, assortment of drinks and training supplies, & all organizational fees. The cost does not include international airfare. *Please note: In-country runners joining the team should contact HBI for more information about trip cost. Incidentals $ To best prepare for your trip, we encourage trip participants to also plan for incidental costs that will vary by person; expect to spend a few dollars on snacks, trinkets, tourist activities and any sundries you require. Excursion Trip Varies Since you re already in one of the most amazing countries in the world, it only makes sense to consider an excursion trip. You may want to plan a few extra days to visit Machu Picchu, the amazon rainforest city of Iquitos or the magnificent peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Whatever you decide, we can connect you with a travel agent who can pull together all your plans. Other Potential Expenses: Item Cost Information Passport $145 Perú requires your passport to be valid for 3-6 months beyond your departure date. Contact your local Postal Office for more information or go on-line at USPS Passport Immunizations $55 each Immunizations - Tetanus is required. Consult your primary care physician or a travel clinic for their recommendations on any other Travel Insurance Health Insurance immunization required for travel to Perú. $ Travel Insurance is not required but is highly recommended. It can cover theft, emergency medical flights home, lost luggage, trip cancellation, etc. You can get more information about travel insurance from Varies Health Insurance is required for participation in an HBI and Outreach Trip; consult your carrier for international coverage or go online and purchase short-term insurance for your trip. Deposit A deposit of $150 is required along with the below application made out to Health Bridges International: due by August 10. This Deposit is non-refundable after September 1 st, as project planning and disbursement have begun. Taxes HBI is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-governmental organization. A portion of your trip costs will be tax deductible. You will be provided a receipt following the trip. 2

3 Important Information Application deadline August 10, 2018 Deposit payment due August 10 Last date for refundable deposit September 1 Virtual organizational Meeting Early September (web-based meeting) Arrive in Lima, Perú Friday, October 26 Departure for the Province of Cusco Saturday, October 27 Return to Lima from Sacred Valley Friday, November 02 Return to home or excursion trips After November 03 Your Hosts: Health Bridges International ( is a U.S. and Perú based nongovernmental organization with over two decades of international outreach experience. HBI grew out of the vision of a physician who traveled to Perú and saw drastic health needs in poor communities. He believed more could be done to better the health needs of people living in poverty through building bridges of collaboration and partnership. He envisioned an organization that works to connect resources with needs. Health Bridges International grew out of that vision. We are a nonprofit dedicated to improving people s health in developing countries through sustainable methods - through collaboration. We train health care professionals, connect resources with need, serve as consultants, and lead outreach trips. HBI is committed to changing the world through partnerships and collaboration. The Running Cuy ( is the brainchild of one of Perú s most accomplished ultra-runners Diego Casabonne. Diego has been running the trails and deserts of his country for most of his life. He is an accomplished runner who has competed on the international stage and has a huge fan-base in Perú and throughout Latin America. Diego is an ultrarunning ambassador who knows how to make every runner feel welcome. As for great places in Perú: By far one of our favorite places in all of Perú is the town of Urubamba ( and the Sacred Valley. High in the Andes in the beautiful district of Cusco, the Sacred Valley (also known as the Urubamba Valley) is magical. The trails seem to go one forever. At one point you can be running on a single track through small farms and lush vegetation and top off on a clearing in an ancient Incan ruin. This is a stunning area with high, broad mountain ranges and deep blue lakes. 3

4 The City of Urubamba: Urubamba is a town in the Sacred Valley region of southeastern Perú. A busy transportation hub, it sits on the Urubamba River, surrounded by rugged mountains. The town is a jumping-off point for the Maras Salt Mines, hundreds of hillside salt pools dating back to Inca times. Nearby, Moray is an Inca archaeological site defined by concentric terraces. Hang-gliding, paragliding and rafting are popular area activities. Many tourists use the town as a starting point for adventures into the Sacred Valley and further on to Machu Picchu. Urubamba is located at almost 9,500 feet above sea-level and provides a good location to get acclimated to the altitude of the high Andes. Our runs will take place in the Andean range above the Sacred Valley and include ascents to over 12,000 feet. Accommodations: Our base will be a small hostel in the town of Urubamba ( The lodging is comfortable and clean but not fancy. You can expect hot water and a comfortable bed. We ll double-up in the rooms (unless otherwise requested an additional $150 fee applies) and venture out into the town for our meals (with the exception of breakfast which will be served in a beautiful garden setting in the hostel). Our plan is to run a couple of days from the town of Ollantaytambo located at the far end of the Sacred Valley. Running: As mentioned above, the Sacred Valley offers some of the most unique running in Latin America... perhaps the world. The trails are endless. We will plan daily runs - with optional afternoon jogs and/or short hikes. The runs will be selected in consultation with one of Perú s top trail runners and co-sponsor for the trip Running Cuy, Diego Casabonne. Plan for runs in duration of 2 to 6 hours. With our longest run happening at the end of the week. Our goal is to explore the surroundings, have fun, and good some great service work. The runs are not meant to be competitive. A guide with be with all the runners at all times. No one will ever be left on their own. In fact, our hope is that we run together each day. Social Outreach: We will have a daily social outreach project occurring at the Union Biblica Casa Girasoles home for abandon boys ( The outreach projects will vary but may include a wide assortment of garden projects (consulted with the boys), small construction work, and mini-health clinics with the boys and staff of the Casa Girasoles. One opportunity will be for each runner to fundraise a budget to support a mini-project at the Casa Girasoles. The budget will help to purchase supplies to implement a project as requested by the administration of the orphanage. Our daily plan will include morning runs, transportation to the Casa Girasoles, activities with the boys and staff, transportation back to the hostel, and fantastic evening meals with great stories and new friends. Throughout our week-long adventure, the HBI staff and Diego Casabonne will help you to learn more about Perú, ultra-running, global outreach, and our efforts to meld a love for running with a passion for social outreach. 4

5 Tentative Trip Itinerary FRIDAY, 26 October 2018 The team must all arrive in the City of Lima on or before the morning of 26 October. We will plan for an orientation and easy day of prep with lodging provided at a Catholic retreat center adjacent to the HBI offices in the neighborhood of Magdalena del Mar. SATURDAY, 27 October Plan for an easy morning run along the Costa Verde in Magdalena del Mar. We will departure for Cusco and the Sacred Valley on a mid-morning commuter flight. Our plan will be to arrive in Cusco and be transported the 90-minutes to the town of Urubamba. Once in Urubamba we will check into the hostel, go for an easy jog and head for a relaxing welcome dinner at one of our favorite spots. SUNDAY, 28 October The first day of our adventure running camp will include an orientation to the weeks running and social outreach plan and a review of the goals. We ll plan a first day run of around 2 hours that will include some sightseeing and a visit to an ancient Incan ruin. Expect the first day to be very comfortable with a premium on acclimation. MONDAY-TUESDAY, October Each day will be slightly different, but plan for the morning to start with a trail run in the range of 1-3 hours. We will follow the morning runs with breakfast and then take a van to the Union Biblica del Perú Casa Girasoles for a social outreach project. The social outreach activities may include a small clinic, construction or maintenance work, and a community garden project. We will work alongside the Girasoles boys at the orphanage. WEDNESDAY, 31 October (Halloween) Our goal is to mix-up the runs in the Sacred Valley and spend sometime in the town of Ollantaytambo. The runs from the city of Ollantaytambo are very different and offer a unique opportunity to truly get off the beaten track into lush countryside with very few tourists and some spectacular scenery. Although we will not have an afternoon activity with the Union Biblica Casa Girasoles, we will plan to visit a small community where HBI has worked in the past. THURSDAY, 01 November Morning adventure run through the countryside and rendezvous back to the town of Urubamba on trails. Our luggage will be transported back to the hostel by van. Our goal will be to have a couple of late afternoon hours of social outreach with the boys at the Casa Girasoles before going back to Urubamba for a great last meal in the city together in preparation for an epic run on Friday. FRIDAY, 02 November Culmination of running camp: A long run through some of the best countryside in the Andes on truly epic trails. We anticipate a final run in the neighborhood of 6 hours. We will plan a big barbeque lunch with the boys at the Casa Girasoles. An evening flight to Lima. SATURDAY, 03 November Lima tourist activities including a walking tour, gift shopping, lunch, rest, and planned departure back to U.S., E.U., U.K., or Canada on Saturday night. 5

6 Basic Information Runners participating in the event should consider the physical demands of running at high altitude and rough terrain. The runs are physically demanding and include extensive time on single track trails and in high altitude. Participants should be able to complete a marathon in under 4-hours and/or have experience with 5+ hour endurance events. The trail running in this area of the Andes could aptly be described extreme ultra-running with diverse terrain and wide variations in distance. Fundraising Requirements: Every runner will be asked to help raise donations on top of trip fees. We are asking each runner to raise $1,000. HBI staff will help to set-up online donation webpages for all runners. HBI is a registered non-governmental organization in both the U.S. and Perú. And, all donations are tax deductible in accordance with the U.S. governments IRS code and the Peruvian governments tax regulations. Epic Race: The culmination of the week of social outreach and running, will be highlighted by an epic running event. This run will be fully supported with mobile aid stations and support staff. Expectations for finishing this epic run are purely personal. HBI and The Running Cuy will assure there is adequate support and a sag wagon is available for any runner who chooses to end their run before the designated completion. We anticipate an effort in the range of 4-6 hours. Runners should plan to have a hydration system of their choice (i.e., hand bottles, pack, etc.) and any equipment they need to run for up to 6 hours (e.g. hiking poles, small pack with snack foods, etc.). HBI will supply hydration and nutrition supplies at the aid stations throughout the run course. Participation: There are a limited number of spaces available to participate. We are only accepting 20-runners for this adventure. Runners interested in joining the adventure should contact Benjamin Grass (HBI's Director of Operations; benjamin@hbint.org, telephone: ) as soon as possible. Trip Costs: Trip costs include an online training plan, in-country transportation (excludes international airfare), running supplies and aid (e.g. water, drinks, food, gels, electrolytes, etc.), bilingual trip guides with over 30-years of running experience in Perú, and ongoing access to a U.S. licensed and trained primary care physician in the event of any minor injuries, travel illness and minor physical set-backs. 6

7 Name (as it legally appears on passport): VOLUNTEER APPLICATION Street: City: State: Zip: Phone (Home or Cell): Phone (Work): Age: Date of Birth: Shirt size: Passport Number: Passport Expiration Date: Country of Issue: Describe your general health: List any medications taken regularly: List any allergies: Food Allergies or Dietary Restrictions: Emergency Contact Person: Telephone for Emergency Contact Person: GOALS - State briefly your purpose for going on this outreach campaign, and what you expect to gain and contribute: SKILLS - List primary profession along with any skills you have (health care provider, carpentry, music, electrical, ditch digger, etc.) and indicate your level of proficiency (professional, semi-professional, hobby): 7

8 Do you know any Spanish? If yes, what level of proficiency (un poquito, conversacional, Tengo un asombroso conocimiento de la lengua)? Are you planning a Side Trip? Cusco/Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon, Amazon Jungle, Lake Titicaca, etc. Yes [ ] No [ ] Please list potential side trip interests: PREPARATION AND COMMITMENT: As an HBI volunteer I realize that I may have to live with a thousand inconveniences. I will have a positive attitude, be flexible, and do whatever is best for all concerned above my personal comfort and feelings. I will be sensitive to the needs and culture of the Peruvian people and represent HBI as an ambassador of peace and service. Signature Date A $150 deposit is due by August 10, 2018 Please make check payable to Health Bridges International, Inc. and mail to Health Bridges International P.O. Box 8813 Portland, OR Health Bridges International is an independent charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code IRS Tax ID # Oregon Department of Justice Charitable Organization Registration #