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Mike
Michael Holland
Trail: Appalachian Trail Goal: 2189 Miles
Dates: Apr 11 2016 - Nov 19 2016
For those of you who I’ve yet had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Michael Holland and I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for 15 years. Shortly after I was first diagnosed at age 10, my family and I began participating in JDRF’s ... more
For those of you who I’ve yet had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Michael Holland and I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for 15 years. Shortly after I was first diagnosed at age 10, my family and I began participating in JDRF’s annual Walk to Cure Diabetes events. JDRF is the leading diabetes foundation funding T1D research, and strives to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D (learn more at www.jdrf.org).
Collectively, our team alone has raised thousands of dollars in support of JDRF’s mission. All made possible through donations from people like yourself. To those of you reading this who have donated in the past, or been a part of our team in any way, I simply cannot thank you all enough for your overwhelming support year after year. A simple thank you seems like an overused and insufficient way to express my gratitude. Each year we receive more and more support through donations made by neighbors who hardly even know me, and those distant relatives you don’t see but “once in a blue moon,†to everyone that has been able to join us for JDRF’s walk events itself. It means the world to me that in spite of everything, people like yourself, visiting this very website and reading my rambling bio, have made the effort to at least take the time to read my story, or otherwise take action in helping to create a world without T1D.
Living with diabetes definitely has it’s limitations, but I still consider myself lucky. Lucky to have the treatments available to diabetics today, lucky to have an amazing support team of family and friends, and lucky to be alive. This spring I will be attempting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, which brings me to the underlying subject of this message. As an avid outdoorsman, this has been an ambition of mine for quite some time, and now the stars have finally aligned for me. Given the 4-6 month time commitment, I will not be around to fundraise for JDRF this year. As many of you may know, my brother Ryan, who was team captain for our annual fundraising campaign, Michael’s Miracle Marcher’s, is underway with his freshman year at UCONN, and thus will have to concentrate most of his efforts and time on school. Ryan has been one of my biggest supporters through all of this, and I regrettably feel as if I don’t give him near enough recognition for his ongoing efforts. I suppose maybe there's this inherent need to be that support base for your younger sibling that just comes with the territory of being an older brother; to be protective and supportive. However, my younger brother Ryan has shown me that this logic in fact works both ways, and I love him all the more for everything he’s done for me.
Anyhow the combination of Ryan’s absence and my thru-hike plans had me questioning if I’d be able to make any sort of fundraising efforts this year. I think it was a friend of mine who first proposed the idea after hearing of my predicament. “Why not have people sponsor you and make a donation for every mile you hike?†Thus began, Michael’s AT Walk for a Cure. In addition to the fundraising opportunity this affords, it also gives me something more to hike for than just myself. 2,189 miles crossing through 14 states is not your average hike, and I fully expect to be physically and mentally exhausted before the end. What better motivation to complete the arduous journey and push through the tough times than knowing that with your generous donations, every mile equates to another contribution to JDRF? People have all sorts of different reasons for wanting to hike this iconic trail, just as I have mine. The idea to raise money while hiking didn’t come along until well after I was committed to thru-hiking the AT. To be brief, it’s a combination of reasons. Obviously there's the challenge factor it presents, as well as the whole connecting with nature, meeting new people, having new experiences, and getting to take the time to soak in all the beauty that this National Scenic Trail has to offer. But beyond all of that, I’ve found that being outdoors is where I’m truly happiest. Best to leave it at that before I really get off topic now.
Completing the AT will be a great accomplishment in itself, but knowing that I hiked all that way for something much bigger than just any one person will make it all the more meaningful. T1D is a serious and stressful disease to manage. Thankfully, treatment options are improving all the time, and people like myself are able to lead normal, productive and inspiring lives. It is amazing to see just how far the technology and treatment of this disease has come just in the last decade, and it excites me to think of what may be possible a decade from now. I’m lucky enough to be able to still do the things that I love, but with obvious limitations and restrictions. With your help, we can keep making strides towards even more advances, and hopefully one day a cure. Thank you for your support and happy trails! less
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Total Pledges |
Total per Mile |
Total Pledged |
Miles Hiked |
Dollars Hiked |
Total Donated |
26 |
$1.37 |
$2998.93 |
2189 |
$2998.93 |
$1694.26 |
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JDRF's research is committed to improving the lives of every person with T1D and to curing this disease. JDRF's research goals are realized by the projects being supported in three basic areas: Cure, Treat, Prevent
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Additional Information
Departure Day - Harper's Ferry, WV - Mile 0 - Apr 11th, 2016
Thank you for all of your pledges and support. Total donation amounts will be calculated when my hike is finished, and reminders will be sent out to those who pledged.
If you would like to support JDRF and Michael's Appalachian hike with a one-time, flat donation, please copy and paste this link in your browser: http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?fr_id=6291&pg=team&team_id=208812
NOTE:
Many employers offer matching gift programs and will match the charitable contributions made by their employees. To check if your employer will match donations visit: http://jdrf.org/matchinggifts/Â
Also, keep in mind that all donations made to JDRF are tax deductible.All collected donations will be sent directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Every penny put into T1D research comes from donations like yours, and every penny counts.
Thank you for your support as the journey to end type 1 diabetes (T1D) continues. Together we can make a difference and ultimately live in a world without T1D.
Mike
Departure Day - Harper's Ferry, WV - Mile 0 - Apr 11th, 2016
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Lauren Enoksen
Enjoy yourself and happy hiking!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$110.00 paid!
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Anne Fornabi
Complete the Task, Enjoy and God Bless!
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$0.02 per mile
up to $43.78
$43.78 due
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Patrick Mcginley
Proud of you Michael ! You can do this!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Lucille Holcomb
Love you, Mikey!
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$250.00 paid!
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Brandon Bober
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$218.90 paid!
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David White
Persevere and enjoy your trek.
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 paid!
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Stan and Jan Gembala
Never be less than your dreams!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$110.00 paid!
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Cathy and Peter Vance
See you in Maine, Mike!
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$0.01 per mile
up to $21.89
$25.00 paid!
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Janet Holland
SO proud of you!! We are with you, every step of the way! xo
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$218.90 due
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Cath and Mike Aboumrad
Awesome life experience!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Chrissy Faiella
Happy Trails!
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$218.90 due
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S Konopaske
Thanks for sharing your hike with us!
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$218.90 paid!
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Edward Holland
Keep on truckin' Mike!
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$0.02 per mile
up to $43.78
$43.78 due
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Malcolm Holland
Safe Travels and Happy Miles! Love, Grammy and Grampa
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 paid!
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John OConnor
good luck!
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$0.01 per mile
up to $21.89
$21.89 due
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Wendy Azzola
Way to go!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$120.00 paid!
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cLement Nickerson
Go for it Mike
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Sandra Cooper
Good luck Mike. Dev Shah
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Patty Murphy
You got this!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Ryan Holland
Good luck Michael!
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$0.01 per mile
up to $21.89
$21.89 due
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Brett Konopaske
Way to go Mike - we'll go have steak when this is over
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$110.00 paid!
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Brian Light
Never stop living the dream, Sasquatch
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$0.04 per mile
up to $87.56
$87.56 paid!
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S Mathiau
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$0.01 per mile
up to $21.89
$21.89 due
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Marc_Ann Holland
Happy Trails, we're proud of you! Love, Mom and Dad.
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$0.10 per mile
up to $218.90
$225.00 paid!
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Mark Cooper
Best foot forward Mike. Good Luck Mark and Sandra - UK
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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Peter Mahoney
Good luck!
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$0.05 per mile
up to $109.45
$109.45 due
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