How YesChapter Works

YesChapter has two completely separate ways for people to help. These streams are independent and never mix:

• Pledges for Cancer Foundations — Visitors pledge a per-mile amount (e.g., $0.25/mile). No money is collected. When Paul reaches Canada, pledgers are invited to donate their total directly to the partner foundations. Paul never touches, handles, or routes this money.
• Trail Support for Paul — Visitors can buy Paul a trail meal, boots, hostel night, or gear. This is the only place where actual payment is collected (via Stripe). These gifts go directly to Paul to keep him on the trail.

A pledge is a promise, not a payment. Here's how it works:

• You choose a per-mile amount (from $0.01 to $5.00 per mile)
• No payment information is collected — just your email and pledge amount
• As Paul hikes, your pledge total grows (e.g., $0.25/mi × 2,650 miles = $662.50)
• When Paul reaches Canada, you receive an email inviting you to honor your pledge
• You donate your pledge total directly to the partner foundations — not through Paul or YesChapter

Paul does not collect, hold, or transfer pledge money. The pledge system is a commitment tracker — the actual donations happen between pledgers and the foundations directly.

Trail support gifts are real payments processed through Stripe. When you buy Paul a meal, boots, or a rest day, the payment goes directly to Paul to cover trail expenses. This is completely separate from the pledge system.

Paul Barry personally funds the majority of his hike — including gear, permits, travel, and planning expenses. Trail support gifts help offset daily costs like food, occasional lodging, and gear replacement over the 2,650-mile journey.

Paul Barry receives zero dollars from the pledge system. When pledgers honor their commitments at the end of the hike, they donate directly to the partner cancer foundations. Paul does not receive any compensation, salary, or personal benefit from pledges made through this website.

YesChapter partners with established, registered cancer foundations to ensure pledges have maximum impact. Our partner foundations are selected based on their track record, transparency, and alignment with our mission of funding cancer research, patient support, and prevention programs.

Details about each partner — including their mission, programs, and registration numbers — are published on our Foundations page.

Pledges are split equally (50/50) between two geographic regions to honor both of Paul's parents — his father in California and his mother in Sydney, Australia:

• 50% to Tower Cancer Research Foundation (California, USA)
• 50% to Cancer Council NSW (Sydney, Australia)

This split reflects Paul's personal connection to both regions and ensures support reaches cancer patients and research in the communities closest to his family's story.

YesChapter is a personal awareness campaign operated by Paul Barry. It is not a registered charity, nonprofit organization, or 501(c)(3) entity. YesChapter does not collect or process foundation donations — pledgers donate directly to the partner foundations when they honor their pledges.

Tax deductibility depends on the partner foundation receiving the funds and your local tax laws. Both partner foundations are registered charitable organizations in their respective jurisdictions. We recommend consulting a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

We believe in full transparency. To that end, we commit to:

• Publishing the total pledged amount on the website in real-time
• Providing clear instructions for pledgers to donate directly to foundations at the end of the hike
• Sharing periodic updates through the Journal about the journey and the cause
• Making ourselves available to answer questions via paul@yeschapter.com

If a partnership with a foundation ends or changes, pledgers will be notified through the website and directed to an alternative qualified cancer foundation.

If you have questions about how pledges work, our foundation partnerships, or anything related to the transparency of this campaign, please reach out:

Email: paul@yeschapter.com
Website: yeschapter.com

We welcome questions and believe transparency builds trust. Paul is personally committed to answering every inquiry.