Anika and Taylor Hike for GoHawkeye

August 4, 2018 Off By Craig Stein

UPDATE: Thursday, August 16, 2018

Fundraising Hike a Huge Success

Anika and Taylor have raised over $6000 for the GoHawkeye Foundation Youth Development Fund. Their single day hike near Telluride, Colorado on Wednesday, August 15 was more than an opportunity to get outdoors for fresh air and a vigorous 8.5-mile hike. The main objective was to support kids with physical disabilities enjoy the benefits of recreating in the outdoors by collecting donations to buy adaptive sports equipment and experiences for individuals. All funds raised directly benefit the grant recipients. The GoHawkeye Foundation has GRANTS available for individuals or organizations seeking outdoor recreation equipment and experiences.

“Growing up spending winter and summer holidays in Telluride, I’ve come to love the mountains and mountain sports like hiking, skiing, rock climbing and mountain biking. When I met Hawkeye and heard that he helps people with disabilities participate in mountain activities I knew I wanted to help and the focus would be on kids.” – Ani Parr

Route Description:

This steep and rocky trail connects the See Forever Trail to the Wasatch Trail #508 that leads to Bear Creek Falls. The Wasatch Connection drops off the back side of Gold Hill. The wildflowers through this area in July are some of the best around. Expect steep switchbacks on the descent into Bear Creek.

GoHawkeye Foundation Youth Development Fund

On August 26, 2021, Anika Parr and Caroline Didden will undertake a fundraising hike for the GoHawkeye Foundation Youth Development Fund during their summer vacation in Colorado. This year’s 10.9-mile hike will begin and end in Telluride. Please consider pledging any amount you feel comfortable donating. 100% of these funds will go towards assisting kids with disabilities to experience the outdoors.

Emeri riding the Wildcat. Courtesy photo.

“Overall, youth are an underserved population in off-road handcycling, due largely to the lack of available equipment.” -Pat Addabbo, Oregon Adaptive Sports Program Director.

Aiden at a sled hockey game. Photo by Danielle Kemp.

Over the years, Anika has been joined on these hikes by several other friends. In 2016, 9 year olds Anika with Helena Burger began raising funds for GoHawkeye by hiking trails on their summer vacation and creating the GoHawkeye Youth Development Fund. Telluride Adaptive Sport’s Team San Juan, competing in the Colorado winter Special Olympics, was the first grant recipient. The pair continued hiking in 2017 and “Wildcat” kid off-road-handcycles by ReActive Adaptations were delivered to two different adaptive sports organizations, Oregon Adaptive Sports and Teton Adaptive Sports. The girls were right on target because these adaptive organizations had a real need for this type of handcycle in their kid biking programs. These bikes were directly funded by the GoHawkeye Foundation Youth Development Fund. In 2018, Anika and Taylor Danielson began hiking together and granted a wish to 14-year-old Aiden Kemp for his very own custom sit ski, to keep on skiing in spite of his spinal cord injury. This grant will make a huge impact on Aden’s life by increasing his skiing time and developing his confidence and athleticism. In 2019, they provided archery packages and a Roadrunner mobility device to the four Sarich children from Houston, Texas to help them compete in adaptive sporting events.

Kenji on a Wildcat handcycle with Oregon Adaptive Sports Program. Courtesy photo.

“Anika and her friends are a real inspiration because they do this fundraiser during their summer vacation. To put somebody’s needs ahead of their own pleasures is very worthy indeed. Besides raising money, they participate in the selection process. Kids providing grants for kids is a beautiful thing.” – Hawkeye

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