Petzl America and the Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition (RRGCC) made history with an unprecedented effort to preserve climbing and recreational access in eastern Kentucky. By joining forces for this year’s annual Rocktoberfest fundraiser and climber’s festival, Petzl and the RRGCC raised over $32,000, more than tripling the initial goal of raising up to $10,000 for the RRGCC, and rendering a ten-fold increase over the event’s earnings in 2006. Fundraising power was bolstered by a $10,000 matching grant from the Petzl Foundation, providing added incentive for climbers to pitch in for climbing and recreation access in the Red River Gorge area.

Fundraising by climbers to preserve access is making national headlines, with this year’s RocTrip/Rocktoberfest’s philanthropy efforts piquing the interest of NPR’s “It’s Only A Game”. A segment covering this year’s Rocktoberfest event is slated to run on the nationally broadcast radio program on October 27th. Globally, the event generated buzz on 8a (www.8a.nu), the most widely trafficked sport-climbing website, which now spotlights the Red River Gorge as a world-class climbing destination.

In 2004, climbers and advocates of the RRGCC purchased the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve, a 750-acre plot of undeveloped land now being sustainably developed for climbing, hiking, mountain-biking, and human-powered recreational access. From October 12th to14th, 2007, an international crowd of nearly 1,000 climbers gathered for a weekend of clinics, competitions, and celebration, while raising awareness and funds that will cover the RRGCC’s annual mortgage payment to protect the Pendergrass-Murray Preserve. Without funding for the $29,000 annual mortgage payments due through year 2013, the Preserve faces potential acquisition by interested oil developers, which would shut down climbing on the land.

“This year’s Petzl RocTrip showed what can be done when a company with heart and soul gets behind something it believes in,” said Robb Shurr, Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Access Fund, a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and preserving the climbing environment. “Having places to climb is fundamental to Petzl’s business, but they took it one step further and got behind a local access issue with national importance and really pushed for success. It’s exactly this sort of involvement, vision, and stewardship that will keep climbing and recreational areas preserved and viable for the future. The Access Fund has always been proud to have Petzl as one of its biggest and longest standing partners-we’re especially proud after seeing the success of this year’s RocTrip.”

“We owe the success of this event to the local community – the volunteers, the RRGCC Board, area businesses, and the one thousand plus people who came out and put dollars down in support of the Pendergrass-Murray Preserve,” said John Evans, Marketing Director for Petzl America. “I highly recommend other outdoor companies include this outstanding grass-roots event in their outreach programs for 2008. I guarantee Petzl will be back to support this great cause.”