SYRACUSE — On Saturday, Oct. 3, Vicki Morton, Syracuse, will trek more miles before 8 a.m. than most people will walk all day. For the past 12 weeks, Morton has been training and raising funds in order to participate in The Ultimate Hike, a program of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and, on Oct. 3, all of her hard work will pay off.

Morton, her good friend, Brenda Faulkner (formerly of Winona Lake) and a group of 30 other ultimate hikers will meet in the lobby of a hotel in Columbus to eat a quick breakfast before piling into vans to be transported to the Tecumseh Trail. When Morton arrives at the trailhead, she will be released with a small group of fellow hikers into total darkness as they begin their 30-mile trek.

The ultimate hikers won’t be in it alone-there will be coaches throughout the trail and aid station teams to ensure they are staying hydrated, have medical support, etc. Most importantly, the hikers will have inspiration provided by ultimate heroes — families who have personally been affected by children’s cancer. Their stories will be shared throughout the weekend and will provide hikers with the boost they need to complete the course.

Morton decided to join the Ultimate Hike because of her grand-niece, Violet Morton. Violet was diagnosed more than four years ago with liver cancer. She had 85 percent of her liver removed when she was only 1 year old. Violet is currently cancer free and is a healthy kindergartener. Other parents and their children are not so lucky. Morton is hiking for Violet and other children like Violet. In addition, to her friend Brenda, Morton will be hiking with her niece and Violet’s mom, Candi Morton. Candi will drive from North Carolina to do the hike with Morton and Brenda. Candi has hiked and volunteered at several previous Ultimate Hikes. You can see Morton often at the tennis court or YMCA, but she has never done anything like the Ultimate Hike.

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the Ultimate Hike program. Ultimate Hike is the only endurance hiking event dedicated to ending children’s cancer, the number-one disease killer of children. By supporting research driven by CureSearch, ultimate hikers are funding targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated timeframe — in short, research that will lead to the best cures the fastest.

“Hikers like Vicki are very important to CureSearch. Not only do they fund research that is critical in changing the odds for children facing cancer, but they also send a very important message to every family impacted by children’s cancer. By logging countless miles and putting their sweat and tears out on the trail, they are letting those families know that they are not alone in their battle and that we are fighting for or, in some cases, remembering, their children,” said Brecka Putnam, an Ultimate Hike staff member.   

Morton’s goal is to raise $7,200 for CureSearch by Oct. 3. You can help her team, Hoosiers for Violet, by making a donation. To learn more about how you can get involved in the 2016 Ultimate Hike, visit www.ultimatehike.org or contact [email protected].