In the early hours before sunrise on May 16, eleven determined individuals embarked on an extraordinary journey. At 2:30 AM, they set out to conquer the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to South Rim, a grueling 24-mile trek in just one day. While many groups from around the world attempt the Rim-to-Rim (R2R) hike, this group is unique: united by a shared purpose and the bonds that brought them together.

For Jason, Tami, and Parker, it was their experience as burn survivors. For Nikki, Buzz, Joe C. Ashley, Eric, Joe L, Lauren, Sierra, and Krystin, it was their connections to each other, the Arizona Burn Foundation, and the burn community. The group included fire department personnel and ABF Board Members, all united by a desire to give back. 

Training for the Challenge

The team trained for seven months, accumulating 184,000 steps and 92 miles on 13 hikes in four different mountain ranges. Their goal was to raise $40,000 for ABF and its mission of supporting burn survivors and their families. (spoiler alert: they raised $41,490!)

A Personal Quest

For Jason, the leader of the group and an ABF Board Member, the quest was deeply personal. “Surviving a large burn injury is much like hiking across the Grand Canyon in a day. Recovery and hiking the Canyon happens one step at a time, slow and arduous but rewarding at the end. Turning a survivor into a thriver, one step at a time.”

“Surviving into thriving.” It’s a phrase familiar to Ashley, given her extensive history with ABF and her role as the incoming Board Chair. As a self-described infrequent hiker, Ashley was drawn to Rim-to-Rim because it allowed her to support a cause close to her heart while also pushing herself both mentally and physically.

The hike also proved to be a valuable learning experience. Despite her close affiliation with ABF, Ashley discovered that individuals with severe burns often struggle to regulate their body temperature, requiring extra precautions when exerting themselves in outdoor activities such as hiking.

“The training itself helped me understand that even though someone has healed from their injuries and is thriving by ABF standards in their personal and professional life, they still experience lifelong effects in different ways,” said Ashley. “Learning about temperature regulation and the challenges burn survivors face on our training hikes made me realize that what might be an uncomfortable or warm day for us can be significantly more challenging for them. It’s something we might take for granted, but they have to overcome these impacts daily.”

Resilience & Adaptation

Fellow hiker Tami knows those impacts all too well. When her plans to hike changed due to her skin grafts impacting her ability to sweat in high temperatures, she adapted. She descended the South Rim, meeting the others along the way. Despite initial frustration with her body’s limitations, Tami completed 17 miles of the demanding hike. She recognizes that “the strongest people aren’t always the ones who win, but the ones who never give up.”

A Lasting Impact

Her resilience mirrors the spirit of the entire group. “Building camaraderie within the hiking group, cheering each other on in low moments, and the extreme support from my fellow hikers – it’s irreplaceable,” said Ashley. “Knowing that we did it together as a group was a tremendous accomplishment.”

An accomplishment that Jason will reflect on for years to come. “This hike was about raising money, yes, but also about showing survivors that anything is possible with the right support. You can’t put a price on giving someone their life back, on giving them the chance to thrive and find happiness. That’s priceless. And that’s what the Arizona Burn Foundation provides every burn survivor they meet – an opportunity to thrive through camps, retreats, inclusive gatherings, mentoring and so much more. ABF is there every step of the way, and it is all made possible by those who donated to support our Rim-to-Rim journey. Thank you.”

Gratitude & Inspiration

ABF is grateful to this group of amazing individuals for coming together, representing something much bigger than themselves, giving back and, most importantly, showing others that we can do hard things. While life may not always work out as planned and is often beyond our control, we can always lean on the support of others and still live life to the fullest.