Charity Fundraiser in Memory of Lisa Callaghan

Hello Friends & Family and Greetings from the Pacific Crest Trail!

I write to you from the snowy foothills of Mammoth over 900 miles into our 2650 mile journey :)

As many of you know, but some of you may not know: Gab and I set out on March 14th to conquer the 4265 KM from the Mexican border north bound all the way to Canada. If we complete our journey (it’s estimated only 15-20% hikers succeed) we will have walked roughly the distance of the coast of Portugal to Turkey and climbed 489,418 feet in elevation; this is like summiting Everest over 17 times.

Again, some of you may or may not know, that 2021 was a very difficult and painful year for me. I lost one of my dearest and oldest friends in a tragic and sudden way. For anyone who knew Lisa Callaghan, she was magic. Pure light and love who touched the hearts of everyone she came to know.

I have spent the last few months trying to navigate through my grief, and trying to make sense of something that will never. Although planned before her loss, this walk has given me so much time to process and grieve in my own way. I have found myself emotionally grieving her loss now more than ever.

promised the day I knew she passed, that I would take her with me wherever I went. This hike has been so bittersweet as I often reflect on all she missed out on and it brings me to tears. Seeing a beautiful view or a colorful sunset, and knowing I have to live the moment for the two of us.

The PCT has trail logs and I began signing my name with hers, reminding myself that I taking her with me everywhere I go.

We had a long talk with some other hikers, who explained to me that some people do their thru-hikes in name of a cause, and it got me thinking. If people run 5ks, 10ks or marathons for a cause they care about, why can’t I ?

would love for all the tears, the bruises, the falls, the passes, the cold nights, the cuts, the screams, everything, to be going towards something other than just my memories.

That’s why I have decided to do my hike in honor of Lisa. I don’t have a specific goal, but I would love to raise money in her name and donate it to Sick Kid’s Cardiac Unit or a charity that deals with mental health and support for those in need, something I know was near and dear to Lisa’s heart.