May 2-4 and 16-18, 2025.
Published: January 6, 2025
Whether you’re an adventure seeker, outdoor enthusiast, hiker, or someone wanting to make a difference, Make-A-Wish Alabama’s Trailblaze Challenge is for you. Push yourself physically and mentally in this adventurous 26.3-mile trek along the iconic Pinhoti Trail in Talladega National Forest to help Make-A-Wish Alabama raise $1 million in 2025. Registration for the 2025 Make-A-Wish Alabama Trailblaze Challenge opens Saturday, January 11 and will close on January 29. The event itself will take place over two weekends in May (2-4 and 16-18).
For 12 weeks, hikers will train with experts and raise funds across Alabama before embarking on their journey. “With every step along the Pinhoti Trail, hikers aren’t just conquering mountains—they’re helping grant wishes that provide hope and joy to children who need it most,” explains Valerie Cunningham-Trainer, Vice President of Advancement for Make-A-Wish Alabama. “It’s an incredible experience, and we can’t wait to see the difference we can make together in 2025. For the fourth year in a row, we are on track to be one of the top-grossing fundraising events held by a nonprofit in Alabama and the largest Trailblaze Challenge program in the U.S.”
Over 1,500 hikers have participated in the Trailblaze Challenge since it began less than a decade ago, raising $5.8 million to grant wishes for Alabama children facing critical illnesses. The money raised this year will allow Make-A-Wish Alabama to grant even more wishes, from trips to Disneyland to meeting beloved sports heroes, and much more.
“This is the kind of event that sticks with you long after you’ve finished the hike,” says Elizabeth Tucker, Development Manager and statewide Trailblaze lead. “It’s not just about walking 26.3 miles. It’s about feeling like you’re part of something bigger, something that truly changes lives. You get to see how far you can go and, at the end of the day, you know you’ve made a difference.”
If you are interested in learning more about the hike, you can check out the free, no-obligation information sessions in Birmingham throughout the month of January. The training program starts on February 1. Sign up at alabamatrailblaze.org.