Cancer Can Take a Hike

When you are kindred spirits with your parent, and then you lose them at a younger age, the way you see the world changes and your priorities shift. When my otherwise super healthy dad was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer in February 2015 and passed away just 19 months later, I knew that I had to do something. My dad and I were extremely close and I gained my love of the outdoors from him. Having completed the Adirondack 46 High Peaks at the young age of 13, my dad had an immense appreciation for nature and hiking, which definitely rubbed off on me. When my dad was quite sick, I told him that I decided to hike all 46 High Peaks to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network , an organization close to our hearts that I’ve remained very involved with to this day. His response: “I would love to hike them with you.” Sadly, he passed away shortly thereafter, but I have had the great honor of pursuing the "46" in his memory ever since and carrying on his work as a cancer advocate. So far, I have hiked 10 of the High Peaks (including a few repeats of mountains I hiked with my dad) and surpassed my $46k fundraising goal, raising over $55k thus far. I can’t remember at what point my dad came up with this, but he coined the term “Cancer Can Take a Hike”, a double entendre of course that cancer can get out of here (!!)? and that hiking or simply being outside in nature can heal and positively impact those facing cancer.?

In my dad’s memory and in support of all those touched by cancer, I am launching a new Facebook Group, Cancer Can Take a Hike, to connect those affected by cancer with each other and with the outdoors. The outdoors has an amazing capacity to heal and to provide a sense of peace and tranquility during challenging times. Through Cancer Can Take a Hike, I am encouraging those touched by cancer to get outside and reap the benefits of fresh air, blowing wind, flowers in bloom, chirping birds, and natural solace. The outdoors has so many benefits--physical, mental, emotional--and the amazing capacity to provide calm and clarity of mind when needed most.

Anyone is welcome to join the Cancer Can Take a Hike community! Cancer survivors, caregivers, those who have a friend or family member facing cancer, those who have lost a loved one, or allies in this fight. We encourage the outdoors as a space for wellness and wellbeing. Get outside in whatever way is comfortable and safe for you (if you are facing cancer, please consult a healthcare professional first about what is appropriate). Then, in the Facebook group, share a photo of yourself or your view outdoors, as well as inspiration, support, and kind words for others. Take a hike, walk down your street, sit in your garden, put your feet in the grass, look up at the sky, go for a bike ride, roll down your car windows, have dinner outside. Whatever it is for you, know that the outdoors is here for us. It embraces us if we let it. Succumb to that embrace and know that simply being outside will impact us in far more incredible ways than we can even imagine.

What does the outdoors do for you?

Please join the Cancer Can Take a Hike Facebook Group and spread the word about this new community. Thank you!?

(If you would like to learn more about my fundraiser, you can check out it out here.)