A team of 11, including one West Hartford woman, will be hiking from rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon, all in one day, to raise money for brain cancer research.

Nichola Dutcher prepares for her Grand Canyon fundraising trek by adding a bit of extra weight – her daughter Shiloh – to her backpack. Courtesy photo

Submitted by Nichola Dutcher

Sarah Whitney, Nichola Dutcher, and nine of their colleagues will be volunteering and hiking across the Grand Canyon to raise money and awareness for Brain Cancer Research. They will cross alongside those affected by brain cancer with the organization “3000 Miles to a Cure.”

The Grand Canyon: 23.5 miles, 10,141 feet of altitude change. One day.

We are excited to come together with this incredible team. Each team member brings his or her own story, talent and passion to the cause. The Rim-to-Rim trek takes the team from the North Rim down to the canyon floor, across the canyon, then up to the South Rim over 23.5 miles and more than 10,000 feet of elevation change.

It is a powerful metaphor for the race to end brain cancer.

The canyon represents the valley of death of underfunded research. We know that funding brain tumor research will change the future for those diagnosed with brain cancer and that if money is the problem, it’s a problem that can be solved. Together, we can do this.

Nichola Dutcher and her husband, Jed Goslki on a 12-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail last weekend, part of the training for their Grand Canyon trek. Jed hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 2008. Courtesy photo

We believe that we will change the future for people diagnosed with brain cancer. We’re passionate about finding a cure, and we embrace every challenge along the way with determination, integrity, and most of all, hope. Our mission is to end brain cancer by raising funds for research and extending an open invitation to unite in hope and action for the cure. We cannot achieve our mission without you.

To learn more about the cause and to donate directly to their page please visit https://www.3000milestoacure.com/event/2016-ctc-nichola-dutcher/. For more information please contact Nichola directly at [email protected]

The local team also be hosting a paint night fundraiser at Muse Paint Bar in West Hartford on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Click here to sign up.

What do donations to 3000 Miles to a Cure fund?

CRACKING THE DEATH CODE:

3000 Miles to  a Cure is investing in Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure’s Precision Medicine Project. Through this project, scientists are mapping the genetic structure of brain tumors so caregivers can customize treatments to a tumor’s profile. For example, a drug effective against melanoma could be applied to a genetically similar brain tumor. This project creates a database of brain tumor profiles and treatment efforts to help us identify effective therapies.

GENOME SEQUENCING CAN LEAD TO A CURE:

Genome analysis allows scientists to decrypt the genetic structure of brain tumors.

BRAIN CANCER IS DEADLY:

It will kill an estimated 13,770 Americans this year. Each tumor is different, possessing a unique and volatile genetic code.

EVERY DOLLAR YOU DONATE:

Will cover the cost of analyzing 10 genes. Each genome consists of about 20,000 genes. With enough data, we can crack the code. 3000 Miles to a Cure is a 501(c)(3) organization.