PHILADELPHIA – July 27, 2025– The All Trails Challenge (ATC), hosted by Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW), is back for a tenth season beginning this August. The family-friendly event continues to grow in popularity over the years for two simple reasons: love for Wissahickon Valley Park and fun!

Not a race, it’s a personal challenge for all ages and fitness levels to discover the park’s 50+ miles of trails – on foot, bike, or horseback. Since the ATC’s launch, “Challengers” and donors have raised nearly $217,000 in support of FOW’s ongoing work to keep the park clean, beautiful, and accessible – from clearing litter, invasive plants, and downed trees, to planting native plants, improving trails, and advocating for a healthy Wissahickon watershed.

To mark this anniversary, Newrez LLC, a leading national mortgage lender and servicer based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, joins the event as its first presenting sponsor. The company is a long-time supporter of FOW events and projects, including bringing together groups of employee volunteers to help the organization’s field staff beautify the park.

“We are in the business of building and supporting communities where our homeowners and employees live, work, and play,” said Bob Johnson, head of originations at Newrez. “We care fiercely and proudly join FOW in championing environmental sustainability and strong neighborhoods through the preservation of Wissahickon Valley Park for generations to come.”

Through its philanthropic program, known as Neighborhood Outreach Works (NOW), Newrez invests in the health, vibrancy, and sustainability of communities.

“We are grateful to Newrez’s significant support of FOW’s efforts to keep Wissahickon Valley Park vibrant and beautiful,” said Sarah Marley, FOW’s interim executive director. “Their ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and our community has a great impact on our ability to continue carrying out our stewardship mission.”

Joining the ATC is a great way to meet other like-minded adventurers, experience the Wissahickon in a new way, and benefit the park by having friends and family support your ATC journey and the Wissahickon Valley Park. One of the ATC’s biggest appeals is its flexibility: Participants choose the pace and schedule that works for them over 10 weeks, either solo or part of a team.

Here’s how to participate:

–August 12: Informational virtual “warm-up” session. Learn about the ATC, including mileage tracking and hike apps, setup for your fundraising page, tips for getting donors, sharing updates with friends and family, and more. 6–7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit fow.org/events.

–August 26: Start date for FOW members. Not a member yet? Now would be a great time to become one. Visit fow.org/member to get a jump on the competition.

–September 2: General start date. FOW will be providing weekly route recommendations and free, weekly guided hikes to help keep participants on course throughout the Challenge.

–September 6: Launch Party. Thinking about joining the Challenge? Join FOW for an opportunity to log your first few miles on a guided hike at 10 a.m., followed by drinks and snacks at the Valley Green Inn at 11 a.m. in partnership with Conshohocken Brewing Company. Challengers who join the All Trails Challenge at the event or prior to the event enter the drawing for a special prize. For more information and to register, visit fow.org/events.

–-November 6: Last day to compete and track miles.

Get started by visiting fow.org/atc to learn how to register and participate and about  giveaways and prizes. Keep up with the latest ATC updates by following @FOWissahickon and #FOWAllTrails on Facebook and Instagram.

Become a Sponsor

FOW welcomes first-time presenting sponsor NewRez and returning early sponsor Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company; and our partner Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Interested in becoming an ATC sponsor? Contact Sarah Marley at marley@fow.org for information about our sponsorship opportunities.

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