Free month-long event begins October 1; every mile logged supports critical reforestation efforts
BOSTON, MA – September 16, 2025 – REACH GREEN, a grassroots nonprofit mobilizing athletes and active communities to protect green spaces and build climate resilience, today announced the launch of its first REACH GREEN Virtual Challenge: 10k Miles: 10k Trees. The month-long initiative is designed to engage endurance athletes and active communities in turning everyday activity into measurable environmental impact, tapping into a group whose training depends on green spaces and whose passion consistently drives support for the causes they believe in. People can register here to participate in the Challenge.
REACH GREEN’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation begins with the restoration of longleaf pine forests in the American Southeast, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. Only 6 percent of its original range remains, leaving the region more exposed to storm devastation and other climate challenges. This project is just the beginning, as REACH GREEN and the Arbor Day Foundation look to expand impact in other regions where forests and green spaces are most at risk.
“Too often, people care about the environment but don’t see how their individual actions can make a difference. REACH GREEN exists to bridge that gap. Reforestation is one of the most impactful solutions we have against climate change, and the 10k Miles: 10k Trees Challenge makes it easy for anyone to contribute,” said Ann Wells Crandall, COO of REACH GREEN. “Every mile logged is more than exercise, it’s a tangible step toward restoring ecosystems and building climate-resilient communities. This is about creating a movement where everyday activity fuels measurable impact and inspires more people to join in.”
Participation is free and open to all, with optional donations encouraged. Funds raised through the Challenge will directly support this first reforestation project with the Arbor Day Foundation, helping connect fragmented wildlife habitats and restore one of the Southeast’s most at-risk ecosystems.
“Trees and forests are the backbone of our ecosystems. As we grapple with a changing climate and the challenges it brings people and the planet, restoring forests can make a significant difference in our future,” said Dan Morrow, Vice President, Programs and Partnerships, at the Arbor Day Foundation. “We believe this project will yield tangible impact for this region, and we’re grateful for REACH GREEN’s belief that a better world is possible through trees.”
Registration for the Virtual Challenge opens September 8, and the event runs October 1–31, 2025. Participants can log their miles through REACH GREEN’s event website on RunSignup and track progress in real time with live leaderboards, digital badges, and peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities. Individuals can take part on their own, with a club or team, or by forming a company team. Whether running, walking, riding, swimming, or moving in other ways, all are welcome. Participants are encouraged to share their progress on social media using the hashtag #10kMiles10kTrees to help spread awareness.
To register, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Boston/reachgreen10kmiles10ktreesvirtual.
About REACH GREEN
REACH GREEN is a grassroots nonprofit that mobilizes endurance athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and community advocates to protect green spaces and build climate-resilient neighborhoods. Created to close the gap between caring about the environment and knowing how to help, REACH GREEN raises funds and directs them to trusted partners delivering measurable, high-impact restoration and preservation work. By starting with people whose daily lives are tied to parks, trails, and open spaces, the organization makes environmental action personal, participatory, and easy to integrate into everyday life. Learn more at reachgreen.org.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical needs with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.