My Xtreme Hike Story
Colleen Lewton
Fundraising for Virginia Xtreme Hike 2026
Colleen Lewton
Last year was my first year participating in Xtreme Hike. I was so grateful for this opportunity. It helps to get me out of bed at 4:00am and drive 2.5 hours to a hike I wouldn't normally go on. (I even woke up at 1:15am for a sunrise hike this year.) It connects me with people who have walked and/or are walking in the shoes I am walking in now. I am able to hear other people's personal stories and share my own, all while walking in God's Creation, which is such a gift. I am grateful for my daughter and friends who have hiked some of the practice hikes with me. I am grateful for my husband who watches the kids while I am away for a full day.
With all that said, the best part of all is doing it for William. I see him fight every day, going through the roller coaster of having a degenerative chronic disease with side effects and complications that are not seen by many. This Xtreme Hike is a small thing I can do to help both fundraise to help improve research and his medications, and also practice the perseverance that William practices and shows me.
So far this season I have completed three of the practice hikes, and I have reached a new personal goal of hiking 17.7 miles. I have decided that I am going to hike the full 26 miles this year, which will be the day before I turn 43 years old. I learn so much from these hikes such as determination, perseverance, giving and receiving support, how to keep going when I'm not sure how I am going to take another step or finish, how I want to show up in the world, and so much more. Being in the woods or on a trail for 8-10 hours gives plenty of time to think and ponder! The physical struggle parallels the mental and emotional struggles, and there are vital lessons to learn through it all.
Please support William and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as we continue to fight for a cure and helping increase life expectancy and quality of life, as everyone with CF fights for their lives.
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m hiking to help change that reality.
CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.
With all that said, the best part of all is doing it for William. I see him fight every day, going through the roller coaster of having a degenerative chronic disease with side effects and complications that are not seen by many. This Xtreme Hike is a small thing I can do to help both fundraise to help improve research and his medications, and also practice the perseverance that William practices and shows me.
So far this season I have completed three of the practice hikes, and I have reached a new personal goal of hiking 17.7 miles. I have decided that I am going to hike the full 26 miles this year, which will be the day before I turn 43 years old. I learn so much from these hikes such as determination, perseverance, giving and receiving support, how to keep going when I'm not sure how I am going to take another step or finish, how I want to show up in the world, and so much more. Being in the woods or on a trail for 8-10 hours gives plenty of time to think and ponder! The physical struggle parallels the mental and emotional struggles, and there are vital lessons to learn through it all.
Please support William and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as we continue to fight for a cure and helping increase life expectancy and quality of life, as everyone with CF fights for their lives.
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m hiking to help change that reality.
CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.
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