It has taken Preston Barden 51 days hiking across the United States to raise money for the National Children’s Cancer Society, and he’s a little disappointed.

Jenna Isaacson photo

Robin Grapa and her mom, Patty Laatsch, prepare to continue their hike across America after stopping near Columbia in May. The two admit it’s tougher to raise money than they thought, but like others, they’re determined to keep raising awareness for their cause.

The 46-year-old Kung Fu instructor from Collingswood, N.J., left New York City on June 20 on a 5,904-mile, one-year hike to Los Angeles and back. He reached Columbia on Thursday. His fundraising goal: $30 million. Total raised so far: $2,500.

"It’s not anywhere near what I thought would happen," Barden said. "I saw more national television coverage coming earlier."

Similar efforts have been more lucrative, but as Barden has found, it’s still a tough way to make a buck.

Perhaps that’s why it’s so rare. Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said that while he’s seen an increase in sports-oriented fundraisers such as marathons, walks and bicycling, hiking across America to raise money is unique.

Barden

"I think those individual types of events are pretty effective in getting coverage," said Nilsen, whose group works with 27,000 fundraisers of all sorts around the country. "How well that translates into actual donors can depend on all sorts of factors."

Barden has experienced that first-hand. He’s been interviewed by 18 television stations along his route and multiple radio stations and newspapers. Each appearance nets a couple hundred in donations, he said, but after a day or two, the calls stop.

Mother-daughter duo Robin Grapa and Patty Laatsch hiked into Mid-Missouri May 18 - 1,800 miles into their cross-country journey on the American Discovery Trail.

The pair had raised $86,142 for bone marrow disease; Grapa is a survivor. Today, four months later, the women are in Grand Junction, Colo., and have raised $97,600, well short of their $1 million goal.

This morning, Grapa said it’s difficult to coordinate with media to drum up coverage when she’s hiking, say, through foothill trails in Colorado with no cell phone service.

Besides the difficulties of marketing while hiking or walking cross-country, there are the costs of traveling.

Nilsen said those costs can be high, but they’re relatively small compared to the costs of holding a fundraising gala or marathons.

Grapa and Laatsch said they are keeping costs low by camping out.

Barden said he’s received donated hotel rooms for 20 out of 51 nights on the road. Grapa and Laatsch receive what they call "trail magic," like the free stay they received from the Yates House Bed & Breakfast in Rocheport.

Barden plans to donate 100 percent of what he raises to the cancer society and will try not to use any of the money for himself. He is eating mostly donated food, including freeze-dried meals made for astronauts donated from a Houston company.

Despite the costs, Nilsen said, the awareness these cross-country fundraisers can create is priceless.

Grapa, Laatsch and Barden hope their accomplishments will draw national attention, and each is trying to set a record. Barden hopes to be the first to walk cross-country twice. Grapa and Laatsch aim to be the first mother-daughter team to hike the American Discovery Trail.

And they’re still waiting for Oprah’s call.