Hikers take on Trailblaze Challenge to support Make-A-Wish Maine
If you're looking to get involved with Make-A-Wish Maine and you like the outdoors, there is a fundraiser later this year that will test your skills and boost your spirits.
The Trailblaze Challenge is a 23.4-mile hike in western Maine.
“It's a daunting challenge,” said Brian Goodwin, a Wish Dad and Trailblaze Challenge participant.
Goodwin took the challenge last year.
“It really illustrates what some of the Wish kids and their families have to go through,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin knows firsthand what families go through. His own daughter, Lainey, was diagnosed in 2022.
“If she can do the things that she has to do, I'm like, I can surely take this challenge on,” Goodwin said.
He also wanted to pay it forward after his daughter got her own wish.
“I felt so lucky to have a wish granted to us, that I really wanted to be a part of raising money for another family's wish,” Goodwin said.
Casey Barnett got involved when she heard about the event from a friend.
“I decided it was going to be a challenge to myself, that I could prove I could do 23 miles in the woods in Maine,” Barnett said.
And along the way, a boost of motivation awaits the hikers.
“It was an extremely emotional and amazing moment, when you're exhausted and you're thinking about quitting because your legs are toast, and you have the cutest little boy with the biggest smile on his face in a wheelchair coming at you giving you a high-five and telling you how amazing you are. There's nothing better in the world than that,” Barnett said.
The 6th annual Trailblaze Challenge will be on September 20. Anyone who is interested in signing up can visit wish.org/Maine.
For more information on how you can volunteer or support Make-A-Wish Maine, CLICK HERE.
