HIKE for Mental Health presents $7,000 to PCTA
On Friday, Leo presented the Pacific Crest Trail Association with a check for $7,000 at their headquarters in Sacramento, CA. Receiving the check for the PCTA were Director of Philanthropy Angie Williamson and Trail Information Specialist Jack Haskel. The distribution brings the 2 year total received by the PCTA to $12,500. Angie expressed her gratitude for the contribution and thanked “all the hikers, sponsors and volunteers at HIKE for Mental Health.”
Read more...Pearland Walk Honors Veterans
Braving the threat of heavy rain. nearly 100 men, women and children came out on November 7 for the 2nd Annual Pearland Veterans Day Walk in Pearland, TX. Officials from the State of Texas, Brazoria County, and the City of Pearland were among those on hand to honor our veterans and raise money for veterans programs. Read more to see who turned out and how much was raised from the event.
Read more...Another Glorious Sunfish Pond Hike!
“I am still basking in the positive energy that came from this hike!” So said one of the hikers days after the 2015 Sunfish Pond HIKE for Mental Heath. More than a dozen hikers joined volunteer hike organizers Pat Horsch and Wendy Summa for last Sunday’s final hike of our 2015 season, and Sunfish Pond in New Jersey was again the setting for a special HIKE for Mental Health experience. On the beautiful sun-filled day, Pat and Wendy welcomed the group and then began the hike from the Kittatinny Visitors Center…
Read more...Sam’s Point Shows The Reason We Hike
“Right before the weekend a work colleague of mine lost a relative to depression/suicide,” write hike organizer Karen Viola. “And the day after the hike, an email came through with the news that one of my own relatives, a young student, was in the hospital. To keep her safe. Because of severe, treatment-resistant mental illness. Needless to say my feelings were all over the place as I browsed through all the glorious, colorful, joy-filled hike photos. But there we all were waving our orange bandanas… and the reason why is as crystal-clear as that day we had at Sam’s point.”
Read more...Great Pictures from 2015 Bear Mountain Hike to Oktoberfest
Thanks to everyone who made the 2015 Bear Mountain Hike to Oktoberfest a fantastic success. Hike organizers Donna Chapman and Martin Hunley did a terrific job as usual. And as usual, they captured a bushel of great photographs on the hike over Bear Mountain, NY, and down to the Bear Mountain Oktoberfest celebration. Check them out!
Read more...Stunning Views on 4th Annual Mt. Washington Hike
Gorgeous weather and stunning views greeted our 4th Annual Summit Mt. Washington hikers on August 22 in New Hampshire. More than 50 hikers of all ages made the 5.2 mile ascent on the Jewell Trail to the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern US. How amazing was this year’s Summit Mt. Washington hike?
Read more...Team California Comes Through Again!
For the second year in a row, Team California has knocked it out of the park, putting on another great hike in Placerita Canyon and raising more than $3,700 over two years! 80% of the funds raised will support programs to alleviate suffering from mental illness, and the remaining 20% will be split between the Placerita Canyon Nature Center and the Community Hiking Club for their work on Dagger Flats. Check out the photo gallery!
Read more...2016 Top Hikers
The hiker who raises the most from a 2015 hike will receive a prize package of brand-new, top-quality gear donated by generous supporters at Leki, Kelty, Vasque, Lightheart Gear, Point6, Princeton Tec and ZPacks. Click to see the leaderboard.
Read more...PCTA recognizes HIKE for Mental Health
We wish to thank the Pacific Crest Trail Organization for listing HIKE for Mental Health among its major sponsors, alongside Leki, North Face, Gregory, and other great outdoor companies. As a small, all-volunteer non-profit organization, we are honored to be listed in such great company. With Cheryl Strayed’s movie Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, in theaters now, the load on the PCT is expected to be at record levels. We are grateful to be able to provide the PCTA with resources to help them preserve and manage that breath-taking treasure this year.
Read more...HIKE for Mental Health awards $60,000 for mental health research and trail preservation
A big thank you to all the hikers, hike leaders, walkers, sponsors and supporters that made 2014 a record year for HIKE for Mental Health!! 2014 drew a dozen new hike leaders, nearly 200 hikers and more than 80 walkers, along with more than 1,000 sponsors and supporters, to participate in HIKE for Mental Health’s effort.
Read more...Kroger shoppers: An easy way to support HIKE for Mental Health
Did you know that the Kroger supermarket stores give you a great way to support HIKE for Mental Health, and it doesn’t cost you a penny? … Read more…
Texas Walk for PTSD Awareness Raises $5,400 for Veterans
HIKE for Mental Health is proud to award more than $5,400 to Texas veterans groups from its 2014 Veterans Day Walk for PTSD Awareness in Pearland, TX. We presented more than $2,400 in workbooks and treatment materials to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, and we awarded $3,000 to Pearland VFW Post 7109 to increase services.
Read more...Illinois hike raises $1,200
On October 11, volunteer hike organizer Josh McLaughlin led our first-ever HIKE for Mental Health in Illinois. Along with his Matthiessen State Park hikers and all their supporters, he raised $1,200 for mental health research and trail preservation with his Matthiessen State Park hike.
Read more...Hooray for Sunfish Pond Hikers
On a clear autumn day, 17 hikers came from as far away as Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina to hike with Susan “jackrabbit” Letcher. As usual, Susan hiked barefoot and paused to read a passage from Southbound on a rest break near the pond. The hike, however, was not a revisiting of the past but a celebration of a glorious fall day, a great HIKE for Mental Health, a time to meet new friends in a gorgeous, natural setting, and a statement that we will overcome the stigma associated with mental illness.
Read more...Colorado Springs Rocks Red Rock Hike
More than 30 hikers, some as young as 2 years old, came out for the first annual Red Rocks HIKE for Mental Health near Colorado Springs, CO, last weekend. And before the hike was even over, co-organizer Dixie Snyder texted us, “Sign us up for next year! Our people want to do it again! Amazing time! …Next year we all agreed that we’re going to wait till Casey (“Aquaman” Owen) gets back to do the hike again. So October, I’ll make sure to bring hot chocolate…. Casey did a great job! This was a great, fun, easy-going experience that wouldn’t of happen without him & all of your support! Thank you!
Read more...Spirits and Funds Reach New Heights Atop Mt. Washington
More than 40 hikers scrambled to the summit of the highest mountain in the northeastern U.S. en route to eliminating the stigma of mental illness and raising more than $12,000 in the Third Annual Summit Mt. Washington HIKE for Mental Health.
Read more...Team California Rocks a Great Hike and Raises $2,500
Our first HIKE for Mental Health in California was a smashing success! Many thanks go to volunteer hike organizer Laura Skorich and to the 22 … Read more…
“2,185 percent done!” Chipmunk Becomes Youngest Solo Thru-Hiker
204 days after setting forth from Springer Mountain, Georgia, Neva “Chipmunk” Warren became the youngest person to complete a solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and declared herself “2,185 percent done!” Neva is an amazing person, and we are thrilled and humbled by her accomplishment.
Read more...A perfect day for the Sunfish Pond hike!
With a mystical fog draping the autumn landscape, fourteen HIKE for Mental Health hikers experienced some of the best that Sunfish Pond has to offer. … Read more…
This path can never grow old – Tom’s account of hiking with Chipmunk
Recently I had the pleasure of spending some time with chipmunk, a 15 year old on a quest to become the youngest solo thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail. And to tell you the truth, it was magical. The following is my story of the time I spent with her.
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