Kelly Tetzlaff, a kindergarten teacher in Simpsonville, loves hiking, but the distance was intimidating at 28.3 miles. She was just as intimidated by the fundraising requirement of $2,500. But at the Trailblaze Challenge, which helps Make-A-Wish South Carolina grant wishes to children with critical illnesses in our state, she conquered all of those fears and then some.
Make-A-Wish held its first Trailblaze hike in 2015. Eight years later, the event has gone statewide, with hundreds of people signing up for one of two hikes held each year in the fall and spring. The group oversees 16 weeks of training, meaning those who want to take on the fall hike on the Foothills Trail start the process in June.
Crystal Alifanow, director of communications for Make-A-Wish South Carolina, explains that the Trailblaze experience was conceived to parallel the journey of children and families facing down a diagnosis, from the early stages of fear and uncertainty straight through the ups and downs of treatment. Reaching the finish, often eight to 10 hours after starting, symbolizes the joy of children’s wishes being fulfilled, and, Alifanow says, “changes the narrative from anxiety to hope.”
According to Alifanow, who accomplished her first Trailblaze hike this spring, the organization works to ensure every participant succeeds in hiking as well as fundraising. “I’d never hiked much before, and I’m not someone who is really in shape, but I’m doing it,” she shares.
Tetzlaff’s team exceeded its fundraising goal, and she fell even more deeply in love with hiking. “I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” she declares, thanks to helpful support staff, knowledgeable trainers, and an encouraging team of fellow hikers.
On the last mile of the hike—called the Wish Mile—depleted, exhausted, and sore, she saw the faces of Make-A-Wish kids lined up and cheering her on, reminding her why she took on the challenge in the first place. “I highly encourage everyone who has the slightest bit of interest in this challenge to take the plunge,” Tetzlaff says. “Hearing from children and parents who have been recipients of these funds will solidify your decision.”
About the Trailblaze Challenge
What: 2022 Fall Trailblaze Challenge; 28.3 miles
Where: Foothills Trail, spanning Upstate SC and Western NC
Hike dates: Oct. 1, Oct. 15, and Nov. 5
Amount raised at spring 2021 hike: $334,000
Average cost per wish: $7,500
Wishes fulfilled thanks to that hike: More than 44
Examples of wishes for kids with critical illnesses: a puppy; dental procedures; a room makeover
Interested in participating? Email outdooradventures@sc.wish.org or call (864) 952-6347.
Illustration by Timothy Banks
