This is my second year participating in the Make-A-Wish Alabama Trailblaze Challenge. I had a blast last year, and it felt great to raise money for a great cause!

Make-A-Wish is one of my favorite charities because when you contribute, you can be certain that you are helping to make the world a better place in a tangible, measurable way. Life can be extremely difficult, and some people suffer. However, there’s a way to provide some relief. Research has shown that children who have a wish granted are more likely to overcome critical illnesses by giving them the joy, hope and strength to carry on and heal. Nationwide, Make-A-Wish grants over 15,000 wishes each year, which is awesome, but that only covers about half of all the kids who are eligible. On average, about three kids per hour are diagnosed with a critical illness.

That’s why this fundraiser is so important. The Trailblaze Challenge is one of Make-A-Wish Alabama’s largest and most crucial fundraisers each year, and that’s why I’m participating. I also love hiking and backpacking, so it’s a perfect fit for me to help support their mission.

You might be wondering, “what exactly is the Trailblaze Challenge, and what can I do to help?”

Put simply, it’s a fundraising event in which participants like me commit to a huge one-day group hike of 26.3 miles of the Pinhoti Trail and raising $2500 for Make-A-Wish Alabama through the public visibility that comes from such an effort. You can help me out in a couple of ways. First, you can make a simple, one-time, tax-deductible donation of any amount you choose right here on this page. Second, you can spread the word and share the link.

If you’ve read this far, I hope that means you’re interested in what I’m doing and want to help. So, finally, I think it’s important to mention that I’m not just a fundraiser, I’m also a donor. Since the first time I heard of the Trailblaze Challenge, even before my first time participating in 2023, I’ve donated to other Trailblazers to help them meet their fundraising goals. I don’t want to ask anyone to do something that I am not doing myself. I think together we can move the needle and make a positive difference. You can learn more about the impact we're making at http://wish.org/impact and https://wish.org/alabama/our-stories

Thanks so much for your consideration and support!