Trail ambassadors with the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative are calling fundraising efforts a marathon, but the Canada Day weekend provided a good jolt to the nearly-$8-million campaign to raise development money for the rail trail.

A Canada Day matching fund challenge received 153 donations totaling $32,900 in the first three days of the campaign, which has an anonymous donor originally pledging to match funds up to $50,000 between July 1 and 10.

But the start has inspired the anonymous patriotic donor to increase the matching funds to $100,000 if the original goal of $50,000 is met.

鈥淲hen I got the update on how well the matching donations have been coming in I thought I couldn鈥檛 ask for a better Canada Day," stated the matching donor. 鈥淲e have an incredible opportunity to build a legacy for our communities and if another matching offer will keep the momentum up then I will gladly do my part鈥�.

If the first $50,000 challenge can be met this week then the donor will put another $50,000 for matching funds bringing to total matching dollars to $100,000. The matching program has the opportunity to fund 1,250 metres of trail construction.

鈥淭his is an opportunity that we have to take advantage of,鈥� stated Duane Thomson, trail ambassador. 鈥淚f our communities can rise to this challenge we can fund over a km of trail by working with our matching donor. We need to encourage our friends, family, neighbours and co-coworkers to ensure make a donation in the next few days."

With the latest donations being matched by the donor the campaign now has funded 1,554 metres of trail constructions from 492 individual donations.

To make a donation, visit or visit the North Okanagan Community Foundation or the Central Okanagan Foundation. Every $160 donated funds a meter of construction. The campaign is also looking for Trail Ambassadors, Campaign Partners and Business Partners to help inspire donations. For more information visit .