The Glacier Challenge has developed into more than a great race. It has become an important fund-raiser for the Flathead Youth Home. The Flathead Youth Home is the only licensed, short-term crisis stabilization program in Northwest Montana. That is a mouthful to say that we care for kids whose lives have crashed into a crisis. Our kids come to us with a wide range of needs. They have been abused and neglected, they struggle with chemical dependency and have mental health issues. They are sad and they are silly. They are runaways looking for home. The Flathead Youth Home has been that home to more than 1,000 children.

In our 11 years of working in the Valley, The Flathead Youth Home has cared for over 1,000 kids in crisis. Kids come to by way of area Youth Court, the Department of Child and Family Services, and mental health agencies. We provide a safe and stable environment for these kids to begin working through the crisis that brought them to us.

The Flathead Youth Home is a program of Youth Homes which serves over 200 children a day through its group homes, foster care program, shelter care, foster care and adoption, wilderness treatment, and family-based services. Youth Homes has been involved in youth care throughout Montana since 1971 and in that time has cared for over 8000 children.

We are proud to celebrate the Glacier Challenge’s 6th year as a multi-sport race. This event allows us to close the gap between compensation rates and cost of care through 100% of funds raised on that day going toward our care for kids. As racers, sponsors, and donors, you are what makes this race such a big success AND fund-raiser for our program.

This year we are introducing another way you can be part of caring for our Valley’s kids. On each entry form, we have added a box you can check if you would like to make a contribution to the Flathead Youth Home. Simply check the box by your name and write in the amount you would like to donate. You can include that amount to your individual entry fee or enclose another check for that donation. All donations are tax deductible AND open you up to a well-deserved warm feeling from your head to your toes.