Aaron-
Your article in the Williamsport Sunday paper was wonderful. I am a new member of your father’s church. I know who you are, but you do not know me. I just want to let you know I will be praying for a safe and beautiful journey. As you are well aware it will not always be an easy one. When you feel as if you cannot go on look up and God will wrap his arms around you even tighter than usual and give you the strength you need. Just remember if you do not make the full journey that it is better to have tried then to never have tried at all and you win either way. My prayers are with you and I look forward to meeting you one day.
Jeannie, Williamsport, PA
Dear Aaron,
Best wishes for a successful hiking trip. I’m sure you will be blessed along the way. Many people will be praying for you.
In His Love,
Shirley, Williamsport, PA
Aaron-
We’d like to make this donation to your noble cause. You’re to be congratulated on your daring and willingness to undertake such a trek as hiking the Appalachian Trail’s full length. We wish you a lot of luck and success, and may your experiences provide you with happy memories for many years to come.
Bill & Nathalie, Williamsport, PA
Aaron-
Have a safe and rewarding walk for cancer Aaron. Be careful! God bless.
Dale & Doris, Williamsport, PA
Aaron-
I admire your dedication and wish you the very best.
Melanie, Williamsport, PA
You soar where others merely waddle. Good luck!
Love,
BCEP, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Dear Aaron,
It was nice to hear from you. We would love to see you sometime. Have a good safe hike.
God bless and keep you safe,
Bruce & Janice, Williamsport, PA
Aaron-
I would like to hear your story when you are done.
John, Williamsport, PA
Hi Aaron! Good luck on the hike. We will be thinking about you and keeping you in our prayers.
JoAnn & Stan
Dear Aaron,
I was delighted to read that you are planning to attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail and was also happy to learn that you will be dedicating your hike to fight against cancer. What an undertaking! I admire your goal and will be cheering you on as you attempt this extremely challenging experience.
I have a favor to ask. My friend, Walt Gasdek, whose obituary I have enclosed, was an avid hiker and runner. He ran over 100 marathons, as well as many ultra marathons. He lost his race with cancer, however. One of his lifetime goals was to hike the Appalachian Trail. In fact, he had hoped to hike it both ways at some point. Crazy? Yes, but perhaps you can understand his drive to do this. He had a gigantic heart and zest for life and learning. He had guts and determination like no other person I know. He completed the Pikes’ Peak marathon (think of the altitude and incline) with bloodied feet, but still finished. I was his handler for a 75-mile trail run at one point and watched him cross the finish line of many marathons, so I really got a taste of what it takes to finish a challenge. In those cases, it was never about winning, but about finishing because just finishing makes you a winner.
I would ask that you keep Walt in your heart as you do the trail. I wish you could have met him. Somehow maybe you will get to know him a little bit during your isolation on the trail. The fact that you are dedicating your hike to cancer makes it even more special to me, as it would to Walt. Life was never going to be long enough for him to do all the things he wanted to do. I hope he will be sitting on your shoulders as you undertake this great challenge.
It would be great if your family would be able to keep us informed of your progress during the hike. I’ll be cheering you on and sending up my prayers for your safety, strength, endurance and an open heart and mind to learn whatever lessons the trail will teach you.
Sandy, Williamsport, PA
Hi Aaron-
Good luck on your ambitious endeavor. You will be passing through Duncannon, PA on your journey. There is a hotel in the center of town where a lot of hikers stay or stop to rest and replenish their supplies. I live 12 minutes from there. Let me know when you reach that point and give me a call. I’d like to see you and take you out to dinner.
God bless!
Ruth, Duncannon, PA
Aaron-
Safe travels to you on your journey. We will love to hear about you hike when you return!
God bless,
Dan & Liz, Cogan Station, PA
Dear Aaron,
Thank you for sharing with us your plans on “Hiking For A Cure.” This is a very noble endeavor and we wish you well! What a wonderful and challenging adventure for you!
I have memories of you, your mother, my son, Mark, and I playing Ring Around the Rosie when you were quite young in the front yard of our home in Mechanicsburg,. And I am disappointed that we could not meet again when your college choir was presenting a concert at our church in Palmyra.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you hike the Appalachian Trail. God be with you!
Our best regards to your family. We so enjoy reading the annual family Christmas letter!
In Christian love,
Susan & Steve, Mount Joy, PA
Aaron-
We’ll be looking for you in Maine this summer!
Glenn & Kate, Norway, ME
Aaron-
God bless you and keep you safe as you take on this adventure!
Jack & June, Duncannon, PA
Dear Aaron,
Thank you for sending us your letter. I admire your goal and determination to hike for a cure. Cancer really is a horrible, but common, disease. As you know, my mother is dealing with a 4th type of cancer, and many on her side of the family had cancer. We all know someone.
I would enjoy hearing from you more and will certainly keep you in my prayers as you hike. Are others going with you?
God bless you on your journey.
Patty & Dan, Pearland, TX
Aaron,
My very best wishes go with you as you hike the Appalachian Trail to raise money for cancer research. May God be with you every step of the way.
Love and Prayers,
Sara Jane, Tyrone, PA
Aaron-
Good luck on your hike!
Jeanette, Grayson, GA
Aaron,
Hoping you have a safe and successful journey!
With our prayers and best wishes,
Amy and Grady, Warriors Mark, PA
Aaron,
I’m hope this will come to you. Reading your Dad’s Christmas letter each year, I’m just so proud of the young man you’ve become and all of your accomplishments. You’re quite an amazing young man. I’m just so glad to see how much you’re giving of yourself and how much confidence God has given you. Continue to rely on God and seek His will for your life and He will continue to bless you.
Jody, Tyrone, PA
Good luck Aaron!
Bernardo, Cambridge, MA
Aaron-
We will keep you in our prayers. God be with you!
Ron & Marcell, Loysburg, PA
Good luck Aaron! God Bless!
Lane & Lois, Annandale, VA
Aaron,
You’re in our prayer and thoughts for a safe, rewarding, and enjoyable journey.
Paul & Carol, Tyrone, PA
Aaron-
What a great idea! You will be achieving a goal and helping other in the process. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Debbie & Karl, Tyrone, PA
Dear Aaron,
We think your idea to raise money for cancer research is a fantastic idea! We hope and pray that “Hiking for a Cure” is a successful endeavor for you.
My mom and her sister both passed away from colon cancer and Bob’s dad from lung cancer, so we are certainly supportive of cancer research.
We’ll keep you in our prayers and pray that you have a safe and rewarding journey April-August.
Take care and God bless,
Linda & Bob, Tyrone, PA
Aaron-
We are happy to help you in the hike for a cure for cancer. Aaron, that is a lot of miles. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Be careful out there.
Neil & Barbara, Altoona, PA
Aaron,
I was pleased to receive your letter. My son, Patrick, had cancer – the type was myoliposarcoma. They removed the large muscle in his one upper leg. It will be 5 years in Oct. 2007. He has hiked the trail in different section and he also does mountain biking and road biking.
Even though he had cancer, he fought it so far and continues to hike and hike.
I will pray for your safety and God speed.
God love,
Helen, New Bloomfield, PA
Dear Aaron,
Thank you for hiking for this very important cause. You are undertaking a huge task. Please be careful and take care of yourself. (Do we sound like your Mom and Dad?)
Tom & Edna Mae, Harrisburg, PA
Hi Aaron!
Great to hear from you. This is a good thing you are trying and Margaret and I are willing to share in it.
John & Margaret, Williamsport, PA
Aaron-
We are so very proud of you!
Much love,
Jessica & Jeff, Germantown, MD
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