Jenny’s 1000-Mile Walk for Jake French:

In December 2008, 24-year-old Dufur, Oregon-resident Jake French was with friends when a harmful headlock resulted in a C6 spinal cord injury, leaving him paralyzed from the collar bone down. A recent university graduate and avid outdoorsman, Jake suddenly found himself unable to walk, totally dependent on others for his daily function, and forced to abandon his dream job with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Over the last year, and with the help of his physical therapist, my dear friend Anna Saltonstall, DPT, Jake has fought hard to improve his function and mobility, despite his very limited resources. Amazingly, Jake has not lost hope, and with the help and support of his community, he has set his sights on Adapt Advanced, an advanced neuro-muscular redevelopment program for spinal cord injury survivors in Beaverton, OR. Adapt Advanced provides a rehabilitative environment to optimize the physical potential of each individual through exercise-based recovery programs, education, support and encouragement.

This spring I will walk for Jake—a talented, young man who deserves to experience the outdoors again. Trekking 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Yosemite Valley, CA, I will raise money for Jake to attend Adapt Advanced. My hike will begin on the Mexican border on May 1st, passing through the Anza-Borrego Wilderness, the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Mountains, a summit of Mt. Whitney (14,505ft), and finishing at the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, eight weeks later.

To get involved with my 1000-mile Walk for Jake French, donations can be made directly to the “Jake French Fund” care of the Clackamas County Peace Officers’ Benevolent Foundation, a 501(c)3 Not for Profit organization, who has graciously set up an account. 100% of what you send will be used to support Jake and his family’s efforts to attend Adapt Advanced. At year’s end, you will receive an update and photo CD of the trip. My goal is to raise $5000 to support Jake’s rehabilitation for two months!

To learn more about Jennifer McCarty’s 1000-mile Walk for Jake French or to donate, click here!