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Jay completed the Appalachian Trail -- southbound! -- on January 23, 1999. He joins only about 300 other people who in 50 years have completed the southbound hike of 2,160 miles. A group of stalwart supporters came out to celebrate, in the middle of a week or torrential rains and tornados. Everyone who came made an extra-ordinary effort to get there, led by Jay's inspiring example.
What about the rest of us? We're more than three-quarters of the way toward our fund-raising goal, but we still have more to raise. Let's do it! The official end-of-trail celebration will be held at the Annual Meeting in June in Atlanta -- let's greet Jay at the finish line with that lovely round total! If you have already sent in your donation, thank you! If not, please do it now! We need your help to put us over the top.
Jay receives the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on the top of Mount Tray!
Jay Platt has hiked the Appalachian Trail -- southbound!! -- in order to raise $100,000 for the Von Hippel Lindau Family Alliance. His goal was to complete a thru-hike of the 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail.
Jay's physical challenge has been to hike more than two thousand miles. He needs your help in raising the visibility of his effort, contributing money, and encouraging others to contribute as well.
Jay has now gone the distance -- more than 2000 miles. How about you?
How much can you pledge to match Jay's effort? A penny a mile? A dollar a mile?
Jay began his trek at Mt. Katahdin in Maine on August 1st, 1998 and completed the trail atop Springer Mountain, Georgia, January 23, 1999. A modest celebration was held in Dahlonega. The Official Celebration will be held at the VHLFA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, June 4-6, 1999.
- Donations can still be sent to VHLFA
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Who is Jay Platt?
Jay is a 32 year old former U.S. Marine, recently medically retired after fourteen years of service. He is affected with a form of cancer called Von Hippel-Lindau, or VHL. Jay has a goal to raise $100,000 for the Von Hippel-Lindau Family Alliance (VHLFA), a non profit organization, by completing a southbound, through-hike of the 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail. He will begin his trek at Mt. Katahdin in Maine on August 1st, 1998 and plans to complete the trail atop Springer Mountain, Georgia, early in 1999.
What is Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome?
Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) is one of the most common forms of familial cancer. The disorder affects many of the major organs by invading them with angiomas, cysts and tumors. This change in one gene can occur spontaneously for the first time in one individual. Jay is the first person in his family ever to have VHL. Spontaneous genetic changes occur to allow us to evolve and adapt to the environment. Sometimes these changes are good, sometimes not. For example, one change in the CF gene protects against malaria; two changes cause cystic fibrosis. Once changes occur in the genes, those changes can be inherited.
What is the Von Hippel Lindau Family Alliance?
The VHLFA an international support network for people with von Hippel-Lindau. VHLFA is a volunteer organization with no paid staff. It was started five years ago and has chapters all across the United States and Canada as well as in 15 other countries. The VHLFA is supported by private contributions and provides information and support for VHL patients and their families. Additionally, the VHLFA provides grants for cancer research.
The VHLFA provides valuable resources to spearhead the fight against not only VHL but also kidney cancer and other related forms of cancer. You can learn more about VHL by visiting the VHLFA website at www.vhl.org.
What is the Appalachian Trail?
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a wilderness footpath that winds over 2,160 miles along the crest of the Appalachian mountains. Stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine, the trail passes through fourteen states, 8 national forests, and 2 national parks. The thru-hike (doing the entire 2,160 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip) is a mammoth undertaking. The vast majority of thru-hikers hike northbound (from Georgia to Maine). Each year, over 1,500 hikers attempt this, but only about 300 succeed. Even more challenging though, is the southbound route (from Maine to Georgia). In the entire history of the Appalachian Trail, fewer than 300 people have ever accomplished a thru-hike while going southbound. You can learn more about the Appalachian Trail by visiting the Appalachian Trail Conference website at www.atconf.org.
Jay's part in accomplishing his goal has been to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. That completes the physical challenge part of it. However, life with VHL is never quite that simple. The challenge of living with VHL continues.
We will all appreciate your help in raising money for VHL Research.
Click here to donate online
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