Hiking for a Cause

In my research before I decided to thru hike the Appalachian Trail, I noticed that lots of people used the opportunity of a thru hike to raise money and awareness for various causes. I guess when you do something that most people view as a crazy undertaking people tend to notice. I think it’s great that so many people are directing that attention for the good of others.

So naturally when Victoria and I decided to embark on a 2016 thru hike we decided we wanted to take this amazing opportunity to raise money. The obvious choice of recipient in our minds was Medeba, a not-for-profit adventure learning center. Medeba has had a huge impact on our lives through years of being campers, students, and staff. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Medeba’s leadership development program, Proságo, we may never have set foot on the Appalachian Trail in the first place.

Anyways… Medeba will be replacing their lodge this coming spring with an exciting new building titled the Mountain Lodge. It will meet the need for a larger, more accommodating building. They are even using climbing a mountain as an analogy for their fundraising campaign. It really is the perfect fit for our adventure!

a 3D model of the Mountain Lodge.

During the summer camp at Medeba one of the many uses of the lodge is for “Impact Time”. Every morning after breakfast campers head up to the lodge for some music, biblical teachings, and for the younger kids they are joined by special guests “Wally and Beav”. A hilarious walrus and beaver duo who hang out and make it exciting for the campers.

So to make our fundraiser exciting for the summer camp crowd we’ve decided to bring Wally and Beav hiking with us! We will be providing trail updates from the perspective of our little animal friends on their Facebook page. Victoria even made them a hammock and tent to bring along – it is already so fun!

Victoria and I introducing Wally and Beav’s hiking adventure at a Mountain Lodge information night.

I love that we get to go on an amazingly epic adventure and raise money for a great cause.

livin’ the dream.