We speak often of journeys at Make-A-Wish® – a child’s critical diagnosis launches them on an unexpected path that challenges them and their family as they navigate hospital stays, procedures and treatment. It is a rough road; there may be setbacks and there can also be triumphs, and throughout the journey there is hope, and the promise of a wish.

The Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenge reflects the wish family experience as our hikers take on the physical challenge of a high-altitude, endurance hike and gather a community of supporters to help us grant wishes for children across our chapter. The Trailblaze Challenge has lived up to its name over the years as our event weekends have grappled with wildfire smoke and a pandemic. And this year, our challenge is snow.

With an unrelenting winter that lasted well into the month of May, we recently shared the unfortunate news that our June Trailblaze Challenge weekends are canceled due to the snow pack and lasting impacts of winter storms, which resulted in hazardous conditions on the Tahoe Rim Trail. These conditions are anticipated to continue through June, and perhaps even longer.

While this news has been disappointing for our team and our registered hikers, there is no better demonstration of resilience among our Trailblaze and wish family communities – which, in some instances, are one and the same! Although the event has been canceled, the journey continues because of the relentless commitment and enduring spirit of our hikers and supporters! They are finding ways to forge ahead – realizing that even without an event, wishes are waiting. With more than 800 wish children across our chapter, the Trailblaze Challenge raises vital funds each year dedicated to wish-granting. And that challenging need remains.

Take, for example, Dr. Kristina Hansen, a Trailblaze veteran in Reno, Nevada. She’s a proud wish aunt and Northern Nevada Regional Council member who gathered a team this year to hike in honor of her late nephew, Garrett. Disappointed, but undeterred, her Party of 5G hike team has already completed one hike on Garrett’s favorite trail in Reno and have plans to hike the Rubicon Trail on what would have been their official Trailblaze Challenge weekend.

And there’s Team Larkin, a group of local Make-A-Wish supporters and colleagues from The Larkin Company who have been part of the Trailblaze Challenge since its inception in 2020. With their hike team growing year-after-year to 10+ hikers in 2023, they have continued to commit to their fundraising goal with the sole intent to help make more wishes come true. “It’s so much more than just the hike weekend and we can’t express enough how much we appreciate you and the MAW community.”

These are just two stories of many when it comes to the incredible community of local Trailblaze hikers who are finding a way forward on behalf of our more than 800 wish kids. Children who need your support to help us fill a gap in funding wishes left by the winter storms.

I invite you to visit TahoeTrailblaze.com, read their stories, be inspired, and join the incredible community that is rallying to support wish granting across our chapter!

Best wishes,

Karen Alvord

President & CEO

Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada