Event Details
Date and time
June 20, 2026 08:00 AM
2nd Annual Hike AT VA For ALZ Initiative
My grandmother and mother both had Alzheimer’s. I remember watching my father care for his mother when I was a teenager—only to live through it again years later as he became my mother’s primary caregiver for seven long years. They both passed away in 2023, victims of the same cruel disease.
My wife Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. Ten years later, after following a rigorous but clear treatment plan, she’s living a full, joyous life—cancer-free. I’m now investing my time, energy, and passion into the Alzheimer’s Association to honor my grandmother, mother, and father—and to help other families facing this devastating illness discover a plan of hope that can lead to a life filled with joy, even without a cure.
A few years ago, Kelly and I committed to section-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 14-state, 2,200-mile journey from Georgia to Maine, including 550 miles in Virginia. HIKE the AT in VA for ALZ combines our love of the outdoors with two bold goals: to hike the entire trail and to help rid the world of Alzheimer’s and all forms of dementia.
On June 20, 2026, we will meet at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center (MP 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) at 7:45 AM. Teams and hikers can choose from various distances, including a gentle one mile out and back to the trailhead, a more strenuous four mile climb/loop to Humpback Rocks and back to the Visitors Center, and the full 11-mile hike to Three Ridges Overlook at MP 13.1. We’ll hit the trail together by 8:00 AM and plan to gather back together in Charlottesville at 6:00 PM for an après-hike celebration with family, friends, and supporters. More details on location to come as the hike nears.
Our Year-Two Goals:
1. Raise a minimum total of $2,000 per mile, collectively from 11 teams and/or corporate partners + an additional $3,000 in general donations.
2. Provide Alzheimer’s education programs to employees of our corporate and organizational partners and amplify the cause through their media and marketing channels.
3. Continue to improve and create a scalable model/playbook to expand the program across Virginia and eventually the entire AT.
How to Get Involved:
1. Sponsor a Mile/Team—Form a team, raise private donations, and bring in a corporate or organizational partner. And/or, if you're a company, lead the charge and encourage employee participation.
2. Participate — Hike with us to honor a loved one impacted by Alzheimer’s, help shuttle hikers, or join the celebration at our après-hike party.
3. Donate—If you can’t form a team or join the hike, contribute to the cause by donating to the primary HIKE the AT in VA for ALZ team.
Thank you to all our supporters
$50
Top supporter
Sponsor
David Johnston
Dec 19, 2025
My achievements
First Donation
First Donation
Raised 25%
Raised 25%
Raised 50%
Raised 50%
Raised 75%
Raised 75%
Reached Goal
Reached goal
