A big thank you to all the hikers, hike leaders, walkers, sponsors and supporters that made 2014 a record year for HIKE for Mental Health!!

We are amazed and humbled to see how much the efforts of the few people who started HIKE for Mental Health back in 2011 have been magnified a thousand fold over the past four years.

2014 drew a dozen new hike leaders, nearly 200 hikers and more than 80 walkers, along with more than 1,000 sponsors and supporters, to participate in HIKE for Mental Health’s effort to end the stigma surrounding mental illness, raise funds for mental health research, and support organizations that protect and preserve our wilderness trails.

Funds Awarded

In December we disbursed the funds raised during the year.

• The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation received $45,000 for research grants to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness.
• The Pacific Crest Trail Association received $5,500 to protect and preserve the treasure that is the PCT.
• The New York New Jersey Trail Conference, an AT-maintaining club with the ATC, received $5,500 to maintain more than 2,000 miles of public trails, including 160 miles of the AT, in New York and New Jersey.

Veterans Program

In addition, our Walk for PTSD Awareness in Pearland, TX, contributed:

• Self-help materials, workbooks and DVD’s worth almost $2,500 for the Behavioral Ward of the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX, caring for active duty service men and women.
• $3,000 for the Pearland VFW Post 7109 to support their effort to provide increased services for veterans and to become a more integral part of the community.

Other awards

We also disbursed $355 to the Colorado Springs, CO, chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as a result of the Red Rock Canyon hike. Thanks to Casey and Dixie for that hike.

And thanks to all the hiker leaders and hikers in our 14 in ’14 program across the country – Joanna, Laura, Amy, Neil, Earlene, Tara, Zach, and Josh.

A big shout out as well to all the AT and PCT thru-hikers! And to all of you who Hike’d Your Own Hike and made HIKE for Mental Health a part of your amazing journeys in many different ways! You may never know all the lives you have touched. Thank you so much!

More details

Our full 2014 financial report and 990 IRS filing will be available in about 3 weeks for those who want more details.

In the meantime, we are moving forward with plans for 2015. Stay tuned for more news soon.

From Tom, Nancy, Diana, and Leo – Thank you for all your support in 2014. Have a happy, safe, peaceful 2015!