Every mile logged in the 10K Miles: 10K Trees Challenge plants a tree and builds community. The early success of the 10K Miles: 10K Trees Virtual Challenge has done more than exceed expectations, it has validated REACH GREEN’s mission. We set out to prove that when people are given a way to take meaningful environmental action that feels relevant, accessible, and achievable within their everyday lives, they respond.

This month-long challenge invites the REACH GREEN community to collectively log 10,000 miles by October 31. If we reach that goal, we’ll fund the planting of 10,000 trees through our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, REACH GREEN’s first beneficiary. Each mile logged represents a tangible step toward a healthier, more resilient planet, and the restoration of North Carolina’s endangered longleaf pine forests through our first collaborative project.

And our community is delivering. In less than two weeks, participants have logged more than 8,000 miles, and we’re still growing. That momentum inspired us to extend our goal to 12,500 miles, creating even more opportunity for impact. Each additional mile represents another tree planted and another step toward a more sustainable future.

We began this first initiative with endurance and participatory athletes, runners, riders, swimmers, and outdoor enthusiasts because this cause directly connects to their world. Seventy-two percent of athletes say that changes in climate have already affected their daily workouts, from increased heat and poor air quality to reduced access to safe outdoor spaces. Athletes are also known for showing up when it matters most. Every year, millions participate in charity runs, rides, and races, raising billions of dollars for causes they believe in. That same spirit of purpose and perseverance drives REACH GREEN, using movement as a force for collective good.

This challenge marks REACH GREEN’s first impact initiative and our first project partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Together, we’re helping rebuild ecosystems and protect green spaces that sustain communities for generations to come. With the success of this first collaboration, we’re already looking ahead to future projects in other regions, bringing REACH GREEN’s mission to more communities across the country.

The 10K Miles: 10K Trees Challenge is just the beginning of building the REACH GREEN community, a movement rooted in collective action, shared purpose, and the belief that small, consistent steps lead to lasting impact.

Our tree-planting commitment for this project is fully funded, and now we’re focused on what comes next: expanding year-round programs that connect movement, education, and local action to create meaningful, measurable change.

If this story resonates with you, we invite you to join the REACH GREEN community, follow our updates, take part in upcoming challenges, or explore ways to get involved where you live. Together, we can keep the momentum growing—for people, for places, and for the planet.

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Learn About Our Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation