My Xtreme Hike Story

It’s time for me to hang up my patent leather shoes and to lace up my hiking boots as I prepare to hike 30 miles of The Appalachian Trail this spring in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Not only is hiking part of the AT a bucket list item of mine, to do it while raising critical funds in support of the fight against CF makes this journey even more meaningful.

Updated 3/13/23:

I am just over a month out from the big day--30.9 miles on the Appalachian Trail! Thank you all who've donated to the Xtreme Hike in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Training is going well and I have been hiking with the team all around North Carolina and southern Virginia--including a half hike this past weekend where we set out from the finish line in Grayson Highlands State Park and did a 15 mile out and back.

During these hikes, I have had the opportunity to connect with some amazing people whose lives are impacted by Cystic Fibrosis. They are grandparents, parents, aunts and friends of those living with Cystic Fibrosis. Their personal stories of the life changing treatment their loved ones receive reinforce my why. When the trail seems daunting and tough, their stories lift me up and your support does too.

After an amazing outpouring of support in the first six weeks of fundraising for the Xtreme Hike, I am DOUBLING my goal in hopes to raise $10,000! Should I hit my new goal, I will donate 6.5% of $10,000--a nod to the “65 Roses” story when an observant 4-year-old, hearing the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as "65 Roses." Today, “65 Roses” is a term often used by young children with cystic fibrosis to pronounce the name of their disease.

If you haven't yet joined me in the fight, I humbly ask you to consider supporting this worthy cause so that one day we will see a cure for CF!