Hiking The PCT For Mental Health

For the next 5 to 6 months, Nate Spores and I will be heading out on the journey of a lifetime. We are thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail that stretches 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. While on this journey, we are asking all of our followers and supporters to donate here for all proceeds to be then donated to NAMI.

In the past few years, our lives have unfortunately been touched by the lack of awareness of mental health. I have lost a friend, an aunt, and an uncle to suicide in the last year alone. Nate has battled mental health himself along with friends of his struggling with suicide attempts. On this crazy journey we will be raising money and donating 100% of the proceeds to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Here is a little background about me. Three years ago, my brother and I did a similar trip to this one. We bicycled across the USA to raise money for ALS treatment: 4500 miles in 45 days and raised about $50,000. Following the completion of that trip, I went to the University of New Hampshire and played 3 seasons with the soccer team. While at UNH, Nate and I met while both playing on the soccer team and gained a friendship for life.

Mental health hits very close to home for the both of us and we want to help in any way we can. I am hoping that this trip I’m taking with Nate will give me the opportunity to help this cause in a huge way. Nate and I will be blogging every day about our journey and taking videos and photos as well for people to follow our journey and feel connected.

We are so grateful and appreciative for any contribution people are willing to give. Everything is being donated to a cause to end the stigma around mental illness and find a way to help others struggling.