My Xtreme Hike Story
Douglas Bollermann
Fundraising for Grand Canyon Fall Xtreme Hike
Douglas Bollermann
I am excited to once again be heading to my home state of Arizona to do the Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon on September 27th. This will be my second R2R which is a 24 mile adventure, where they have signs that tell you "Down is optional, Up is mandatory". The hike will involve a 5,800 foot descent from the North Rim to Phantom Ranch followed by a 4,200 foot ascent up to the South Rim. I will be joined by my good friends Amos Beason and John Barlow, who are the founders of the Xtreme Hike, along with Peter Barry, whose son Jamie was the inspiration for the original hike.
As a reminder, the Xtreme Hike events are one day endurance events to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is a devastating genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of more than 35,000 children and adults in the United States with around 1,000 new cases each year. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are making a huge difference in extending and improving the quality of life for those with CF. As a result, the average life expectancy for someone with CF has risen from 26 years old in 2008 to over 65 years today. However, there is still not a cure so there is more to be done!
Since inception in 2009, the Xtreme Hike has raised over $20.0mm nationally, making it one of the leading fund raisers for CF. For me personally, my involvement started off as a physical challenge for what seemed like a good cause but one that I knew little about. Fourteen years and ten hikes later, I continue to hike for the those families whose loved ones remain impacted by CF.
I have set a goal to raise $10,000 to benefit CF research As a reminder, all donations are 100% tax-deductible and nearly 90% of every dollar of revenue is utilized to support research, care and education.
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