For the 4th year in a row, I am excited to once again, take on two Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenges in the same year. This will be my 6th Trailblaze Challenge: three in Big Bear, one in Nevada, and one in Oregon. My first year hiking 28 miles in one day was definitely challenging, and the satisfaction of completing it with my family waiting at the finish line was truly humbling. In July of this year, I hiked for Make-A-Wish Oregon and hiked in Silver Falls State Park. I'm looking forward to hiking the original one that started all Trailblaze Challenges. (It also happens to be close to my sister in NC.) Each hike is still very humbling, making me very grateful that I can still complete them. Over the years, our team has "Embraced the Suck" during 26-28 mile hikes in one day, so that we can "Embrace the Magic" of the event and all of the Wish Families.
Last year, I decided to see the other side of the fundraising and became a Wish Granter. Still really new at it, but excited to be interacting with Wish Kids and helping make their wishes come true.
I always walk in remembrence of my cousin, Robbie Alcoran, who passed away at age 14 from Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor of the Spine (PNET) in 2014, 9 months after he was diagnosed. Since he was too sick to travel, before he passed, Make-A-Wish granted him and his entire family a staycation back home in Hawaii. I will always be grateful that they had that time together.
The one thing that keeps you hiking is knowing that you are helping to raise the critical funds necessary for Make-A-Wish to grant the one true wish for each eligible child with a critical illness. So each member of my team (Miles for Smiles) and I, have committed ourselves to raising $2500 each to make wishes come true. If anyone is interested in joining our team for the challenge, please let me know. Our team grows every year and we welcome adding new members to our team. This year, we have someone on our team who was a Wish Kid herself when she was 7 years old and diagnosed with leukemia. She hikes because she fully understands how important wishes are for sick children.
Did you know that Make-A-Wish grants more than 15,000 wishes nationwide every year? That’s a lot, yes. But that’s only 50% of the eligible kids. Every hour of every day, on average, three children are diagnosed with a critical illness. Every one of these kids needs a wish to give them strength and help them heal. I’m fundraising so more deserving kids and their families can know the true happiness, relief and renewal a wish can bring.
These essential wishes are only possible because of supporters like you. Together, we are transforming lives- One wish at a time!
Will you help me support Make-A-Wish by donating today?
