Help us raise $100k for mental health and environmentalism!
Beginning this October, Emily + Hunter will be trekking 3000km across New Zealand on the Te Araroa to raise funds and awareness for causes close to their heart.
$120
Amount raised across the 6 organizations as of September 2nd. Help us reach $100,000 by April 1, 2026!
Who We’re Fundraising For
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Wirth Foundation
🇨🇦 Mental Health
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David Suzuki Foundation
🇨🇦 Environment
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Lifeline
🇦🇺 Mental Health
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Australian Conservation Foundation
🇦🇺 Environment
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Mental Health Foundation of NZ
🇳🇿 Mental Health
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Forest & Bird
🇳🇿 Environment
click here to learn more about the organizations
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click here to learn more about the organizations |
The Team Behind ‘Sole to Soul’
Emily Dibdin
“I’ve seen how transformational outdoor journeys have been in reconnecting people to their sense of self and the earth. I’m interested in deep diving experimentally on ways we can reconnect to the places we are in relation to our very existence. And I’m hoping to bring these learnings from the TA into the life I am creating, and the work I do.”
Emily followed the typical path of school to corporate job, but knew her life was meant to be doing something more meaningful. She had a life changing “AH-HA” moment while in a sales meeting, and quit three days later with the plan to solo travel.
Emily has since pursued a career in Outdoor and Experiential Education, where she blends her lifelong love for nature and her passion for people development. She is currently living on a private ecological reserve and outdoor school in Squamish, BC.
Hunter Bergen
“I used to think there was something wrong with me for not being content with following the “normal path” like everyone else. The path of curiosity has pulled me in so many directions in my short life already; But I’ve always loved creating through words and a camera – it’s ultimately what’s kept me alive and taught me how to find the beauty in life. I want to share this with and empower others.”
Born-raised in BC, Hunter lived in the same house for the first 21
years of her life, and has now lived in a van in Australia the past couple years. She started to follow the “typical path” and got a degree in architecture; but her fascination with the endless possibilities for living life, her love for the outdoors and its important role it played after the loss of her mum to suicide (and covid killing the job market), set her off on a pursuit to discover where she fit in this world.
For The Brands Who Want To Get Invested!
As planning for this big adventure continues and outreach evolves - if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that nothing successful is created alone.
Which is why we’re asking YOU to get involved.
We’ve officially selected the 3 mental health and 3 environmental organizations across Canada, New Zealand, and Australia that we’ll be raising funds for - and we’re looking for brands who want to get involved to help us reach a larger audience and make a greater impact!
Attached is our project proposal for brands looking to invest in some capacity - whether it’s through paid campaigns, gear donation, documentation support/storytelling, financial support through fundraiser donations or direct project donations, etc.
If you’re excited about this project and want to get involved, feel free to connect with us over Instagram or shoot us an email at hunter.bergen98@gmail.com.
Support Emily and Hunter Directly!
It is estimated that walking this trek takes 4-6months to walk and costs an average of $8-10k per person, so to make this all possible, we're seeking your support and sponsorship to help cover some of the costs directly related to the trek.
This journey is going to be long and challenging in ways we can only imagine at this point, and any support we get helps us immensely in achieving this big goal!
Donations made through this link go directly to Emily and I to cover costs like:
food
accommodation/campsites that aren't covered with the trail hut pass
gear repairs + replacements (like footwear, clothing, tent, sleep system, etc.)
transportation (shuttle to the trail head, ferry between the North and South Island, compensating people who pick us up when hitch-hiking, etc.)
crowdfunding strategies to reach a larger audience and raise more money for the organizations (announcements on this soon to come!)
No donation is too small and is greatly appreciated!
