In 2018 I lost my wife, Sandy Wright, to triple-negative breast cancer. To celebrate her life, and mark my own healing  journey, I am hiking the Appalachian Trail - a lifelong dream that Sandy and I had hoped to experience together.

The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world measuring 2,198.4 miles. It travels through 14 states, 6 National Parks, 8 National Forests, and 2 Wildlife Refuges. The elevation gain is equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times and takes an average of 6 months to complete. It's the adventure of a lifetime and has been on my bucket list since childhood - at 16 years old I convinced Sandy to add it to hers.

To no ones surprise, life got in the way and pushed this dream further and further down our priority list until we eventually resolved ourselves to giving up on it. Before she died, Sandy was determined to bring this dream back to life and encouraged me to chase it saying, "if you let a dream die, a part of you dies with it." I didn't want to hear it at the time and tried to push it out of my mind telling myself it was selfish and irresponsible to dust off a childhood dream in my 60's that I had let die decades ago. With each passing year Sandy's words rang louder in my mind and my inner dialog shifted to "I can't afford to do this - but I also can't afford NOT to."

I will be documenting my journey on social media and raising money for breast cancer research with MSKCC where Sandy was treated. I chose to organize this fundraiser with MSKCC because of the experimental and groundbreaking research they are doing to help fuel progress for immunotherapy treatments and offer patients cutting edge alternatives to traditional treatment options.

Sandy donated her tumors to help scientists and doctors better understand this devastating disease and my hope is that the money I raise will help progress this research and someday spare another family from the pain ours went through losing Sandy.

Follow the Instagram and Facebook accounts below to track my journey, receive my updates from the trail, and help me spread the word! Please send me an email if you would like to receive updates but are not on social media.  

The strength and generosity of the community that surrounds me have allowed this tribute to Sandy to come to life and I can't thank you all enough for being part of that.

Instagram: Steven_C_Wright
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jocelyn.wright.90
Email: steven.c.wright0962@gmail.com

God Bless,
Steven Wright

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I'm raising money for critical cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering—where new discoveries are revolutionizing how cancer is diagnosed and treated. Join me in making a difference by donating today!

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