We hike for GoHawkeye
August 6, 2021Fundraising Hike Benefiting the GoHawkeye 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.
“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
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.
“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
This trek is more than an opportunity to get outdoors for fresh air and a vigorous 10.9-mile hike. The girl’s main objective is 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 these individuals. Help them help others by making a donation HERE! All funds raised directly benefit the grant recipients. The GoHawkeye Foundation has GRANTS available for individuals or organizations seeking outdoor recreation equipment and experiences.
Youth Development Fundraiser Hike Trail
Route Description:
This steep and rocky route connects the See Forever Trail #415 to the Wasatch Trail #508 via the Wasatch Connection trail. The route leads up the steep Wasatch trail until intersecting with the Bridal Veil Trail #636 and then on to the ending at Bridal Veil Falls. The Wasatch Connection trail drops off the backside of Gold Hill on the Telluride Ski Resort. The wildflowers through this area of upper Bear Creek in August are some of the best around.
2019 support of the Youth Development Fund
A home run for the entire group of eight out on the fundraising trail. On Sunday, August 25, 2019 they completed this 10.9-mile trek across some of the roughest terrains the San Juan Mountains can offer. Thanks to all that made this mission possible and especially all that donated to the GoHawkeye Youth Development Fund. This years one day hike raised more than $8000 which will go to support kids with disabilities recreate in the outdoors.
From left to right; Grayson, Taylor, Hawkeye, and Anika.
“I just love everything about mountain sports. I love the clean air, the thrill of the challenge and the sense of accomplishment when you finish. When I learned that some people didn’t have the same opportunities to participate in sports I knew I wanted to help. It feels good to know that I am able to help others to be able to experience what I love most. ”
– Ani Parr
