Our Communities
The Hood To Coast/Portland To Coast Relays have several community building programs that help us to be good neighbors and contribute positively back to the communities in which our participants live, work and play.
Attention to the human and environmental impact of the world’s largest running and walking relay offers an indication as to why the Relays have begun a dedicated mission to improve upon the relationships of communities in which it passes through.
Since its founding in 1982, The Hood To Coast Relay has striven to become more socially and environmentally active, "but it wasn’t very well known or organized initially," recalls Founder Robert Foote. In 1997, Hood To Coast along with affected County permit specialists decided to put a maximum cap on the number of Hood To Coast teams that would be admitted to the race every year. The team HTC cap thus put a limit on traffic congestion, noise and the environmental “footprint” the race leaves on communities.
The Relays have grown increasingly active in counties in which the race runs through, pursuing local scout troops, cheerleading teams, Boys & Girls Clubs, church groups and schools for work related to the event in which the race is able to contribute funds back to. For example:
- Donated to refurbish Seltzer Park (Seaside, Oregon).
- Donated for a mural and playground equipment at Goodman Park (Seaside, Oregon).
- Promote local community fundraisers in all handbooks
- Donated for Grange renovations
- Hired local soccer team to assist in post race clean-up of Clatsop County
- Hire local Seaside students to run the beach food garden
The Hood To Coast/ Portland To Coast Relays have also been in support of its charity of choice, The American Cancer Society for the past 14 years. This year, participants, sponsors and the race fundraised over $517,000 to support the American Cancer Society!
Hood To Coast no longer focuses solely on just “making sure participants have fun and stay safe.” Improvements are in place for course clean up, eliminating waste, building proactive community relationships, improving safety, and of course, delivering the greatest and largest running and walking relay experience in the world!
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Environmental Investment
The Hood To Coast and Portland To Coast Relays are making a sustained effort to integrate policies and programs throughout all operational aspects to minimize its environmental impact along the 200 mile course.
- Plastic recycling receptacles at ALL Exchanges, as well as Start and Finish Areas! In 2011 alone, we estimated to have recycled over 44,000 water bottles!
- All handbooks are printed on post-consumer recycled paper (with online paper-less option available).
- Water Event Station (refill your water bottles for free at Exchange 12)! Thanks to the Portland Water Bureau.
- Honored with RecycleWorks Award (2008-2011) by The City of Portland for environmentally sustainable business practices.
- Mandatory online registration
- Use biodegradable plates/utensils at Finish Area Food Garden and catering.
- Donation past season merchandise, race and volunteer shirts.
We are challenging participants to engage in more environmentally connected and conscious actions to protect the beauty of the local Oregon terrain. HTC/PTC continues to strive to understand and offset the effects of participant activities, thus creating long-term environmental programs that benefit everyone.
Please make a concerted effort to bring reusable water bottles and large gallon water containers to refill them! (Reduce waste from plastic disposable bottles. Look for the Exchange 12/PTC Start water event station to refill your water containers, as well as plastic bottle recycling bins at ALL Exchanges, Start Area and Finish party!
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