Welcome

Welcome to the Ultimate Hike For A Cure blog. My name is Ty Hover and I am the founder and chairman of the UHFAC.

This non-profit organization was started in 2007, as a way to help bring attention to diabetes research and the plight of diabetics everywhere. It was also begun, to help show diabetics that you shouldn't allow this disease prevent you from doing anything.

I also hope that it will inspire others to join or begin their own projects to help fight this insidious disease that over 25 million americans suffer with each moment of each day.

I started this because I have suffered with type I diabetes for the past 30 years and I was tired of seeing so much focus be given to so many other terrible diseases and problems... but not enough focus being given to the leading cause of blindness, limb amputation, and kidney failure. I was also troubled by watching so many "new" and "old" diabetics give up or decide they couldn't do anything, because they have this disease.

This is where I decided I needed to step up and do something.

After much thought and debate. I decided to follow some advice my parents had been giving me every since I was younger... do what you love to do, to help make a difference. So, I decided, because I am an avid outdoorsman, I would backpack from Michigan to Alaska. I love to backpack and camp and I have also always wanted to see western Canada and Alaska. I also have enjoyed doing charity work. So why not combine them all!!!

Now, a first attempt was made in March 2009. But, due to a combination of logistical, financial, and physical problems, I was forced to abandon my quest 482 miles north of Detroit (40 miles south of Wawa, Ont.). I then had to be taken to the Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Mi.

But, this setback did not destroy my resolve. If anything, it made it stronger and has made me want to reach my goal that much more.

This brings us to now.

Currently, I have assembled a magnificent team of people to help me in reaching my goals and get the word out. I have also decided to change the starting point from Detroit to East Lansing, Mi, on the campus of Michigan State University. from there we will head north to St Ignace, Mi. But, rather than continue north and try to navigate the north shore of Lake Superior, we will head due west and skirt the northern border of the US, moving into Canada in either Montana or Idaho.

Myself or my Exec VP of Media Relations, Wess Grigg, will be blogging updates here as the launch date of April 9, 2011 approaches. I hope you will continue to follow the progress of the UHFAC and please, tell others about what it is we are trying to do here.

For more info about the UHFAC, please visit our website at www.uhfac.com.



Thank You,

Ty Hover
Founder/Chairman
UHFAC