Hike for Hope Set For Spring High Point Market

March 12, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 2007 Market-goers and local businesses are invited to hit the pavement in the early morning hours before the opening of the Spring High Point Market as part of the home furnishings industry’s second annual Hike for Hope.

The one-hour event, a two-mile walk through downtown High Point, is an industrywide fundraiser for City of Hope, a leading cancer research and treatment center. The hike starts at 7:15 a.m., Sunday, March 25, the morning prior to market’s official start.

“The Hike for Hope is a chance for everyone connected to the home furnishings industry to show their support for the City of Hope,” said Jena Hall, co-chair of the National Home Furnishings Industry board. “Every year, the industry’s fundraising efforts for this vital organization are greatly appreciated by the doctors and researchers at City of Hope. But more important, it matters to the patients, whose lives we are helping to save. Unfortunately, cancer touches almost everyone’s life in one way or another.”

Organizers are encouraging manufacturers, retailers, designers, market showroom buildings, local businesses and other market-goers to participate in the Hike for Hope. The Hike will start promptly at 7:15 a.m., rain or shine, beginning at the High Point Market Transportation Terminal at the 200 Block, East Commerce Avenue. Refreshments will be served courtesy of the International Home Furnishings Center.

“We’re asking everyone connected to the High Point Market to get involved in this important event,” said Kimberley Wray, vice president of marketing at the High Point Market Authority. “The Hike for Hope is an opportunity for everyone to demonstrate their team spirit and raise funds for an important cause. At the same time, the event is also a unique marketing opportunity—enabling companies to promote their brands on the streets of downtown High Point. Participants can either add their company name to a tee-shirt specially designed by City of Hope for the event, or wear a tee-shirt (or other logo apparel) that promotes their company during the hike. Last year, Ashley Furniture flooded the streets with hundreds of sales representatives wearing Ashley’s signature orange at the inaugural walk. On that morning, the Ashley representatives not only helped to raise $50,000 for COH, they made quite a visual statement about the Ashley brand and their support of one of last year’s honorees, Todd Wanek.”

This year, Hike for Hope Grand Marshall Jeff Cook, newly named president of Broyhill Furniture Inds., will lead the procession through the streets of downtown.

Many market buildings, including IHFC and Market Square are supporting the event, and Tom Dayvault, president of the High Point Chamber of Commerce is getting the word out to local merchants.

“We are inviting all of the local businesses that serve the High Point Market to participate in the Hike as a show of support for the market,” Dayvault said.

A registration fee, which serves as a suggested donation to City of Hope, is $50.

“This is a suggested amount,” Hall said. “Individuals can of course invite others to sponsor them in the walk in order to raise funds, and everyone, whether they choose to walk or not, is invited to make a donation.”

Registration forms and tee-shirt templates may be downloaded at www.highpointmarket.org/cityofhope. Volunteers from MGM Transport will also man the High Point Market Authority Information Booth on Saturday, March 24, the day prior to the hike, to collect donations and enable individuals to register for the walk on-site.

For information about group registration contact Ellen Gefen at (336) 884-5020 or via e-mail at ellen@thehome.com