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Join our free Let’s Move Exercise Program! Accessible, expert-led virtual sessions to help you build strength and improve balance from home. REGISTER
This October, NAF will take our mission to new heights with our second annual Xtreme Hike at the Grand Canyon. Together, our team of 26 hikers will take on one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth…and every step will move us closer to life-changing treatments and a cure.
The trek begins in…
All participants will be asked to pledge a minimum of $10,000 to join this adventure. All donations will directly support NAF’s mission. Only 26 spots are available!
As a participant, event guides will provide a thorough training regimen to prepare you for the day-long professional guided tour across the Grand Canyon. Once there, you’ll have the camaraderie of the other hikers and the expertise of professionals to get you through the day.
Professional Guided Tour Includes:
Is this type of challenge for you? Email Joel Sutherland, VP of Development, if you’re interested in learning more.
Last year, 21 hikers made the trek across the Grand Canyon together. They surpassed their goal and raised more than $300,000 in support of NAF’s mission.
Check out their journey in this short video…
Behind every step is a powerful story. These hikers are individuals with Ataxia, caregivers, advocates, family members, and community leaders — each with a unique reason for joining the journey. Discover what drove them to take on this challenge and how Ataxia has touched their lives.
“Watching my dad’s challenges with SCA3 motivates me to do everything I can to push research forward — from participating in studies to taking on new physical challenges. Knowing that I also carry the gene makes this fight deeply personal. The Xtreme Hike is my way of pushing back, showing strength, and turning hope into action.”
“My mother had Ataxia and I was diagnosed with it 2 years ago. That’s the bad news. The good news is thanks in huge part to the National Ataxia Foundation; research is skyrocketing, so the outlook will likely be very different for the next generation. I credit NAF for giving me knowledge about my disease and hope for the future, for me and the entire Ataxia community. “
“Ever since my wife was diagnosed with Ataxia 6 years ago, I have made it my mission to raise awareness about this terrible disease while also raising funds for research and education.”
“I lost a parent to Ataxia and have siblings and cousins who are struggling with the disease. As sad as it has been to watch various family members get sick, in some ways, it pulls us closer together. This hike is a chance to raise awareness and funds that will help pave the way to a cure.”
“My favorite memories with my dad are the annual hiking trips we used to take every spring on the Appalachian Trail. SCA3 has slowly made those hikes impossible, but it hasn’t taken away our shared love of adventure—we just find new, more accessible ways to enjoy it together. I’ve dedicated my career to Ataxia research, and I’ll be doing this hike for him—carrying forward our tradition and our fight for progress.”
Each hiker is working toward their $10,000 fundraising goal. Click below to support their journey and make an impact for families living with Ataxia.
You don’t have to hike the Canyon to make a difference. Support a participant, share their stories, or make a direct donation today. Together, we can accelerate treatments and improve lives.
Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date during the hike!
Interested in sponsoring this event and supporting the Ataxia community? Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations looking to make an impact.
Rich McCutchen
Regional Development Manager
rich@ataxia.org
