Ultimate Hike FAQs

The CureSearch Ultimate Hike is more than a hike. It’s a life-changing adventure that brings people together to go the distance for children with cancer. You’ll train, fundraise, find your people and cross the finish line knowing your miles helped move the search for better treatments forward.

Ultimate Hike is the nation’s largest endurance program dedicated to ending children’s cancer, but it isn’t the mileage that makes it “Ultimate.” It’s the mission.

Take on the distance that challenges you. Every Ultimate Hike offers full- and half-distance options, with challenging routes of up to 27 miles.

No. Whether it’s your first endurance challenge or you’re pushing farther than ever before, you won’t do it alone. Our volunteer coaches provide expert training, guidance and encouragement throughout your journey. Train with fellow hikers in one of our local training cities, or connect with our Virtual Coaches wherever you are.

You bring the commitment. We’ll help you get ready for the trail.

No. Some hikers arrive with a team, and others arrive not knowing anyone. Along the way, training partners become friends and teammates become family. You can register as an individual, join an existing team or start your own.

It’s a weekend of lodging, dining and celebrating together.

• Friday: Group outing, welcome party and Mission Dinner
• Saturday: Hike day. We provide you with everything you need to be successful!
• Sunday: Awards breakfast celebrating every mile and every dollar raised

Every venue is different, so your hike lead will share details for your weekend. Watch the hike weekend video →

Every hiker gets:

• Friday welcome dinner and Sunday awards breakfast
• Transportation to and from the trail
• Aid stations and coach support on the trail
• Training with volunteer coaches, locally or virtually
• An Ultimate Hike swag bag with T-shirt
• Access to our online training and fundraising portal

The hotel option also includes 2 nights’ lodging at double occupancy (see the hotel question below).

Find your hike to see current locations. For safety and security, we don’t publish exact trail locations or times online. Email us at ultimatehike@curesearch.org, and we’ll share everything you need to know.

Absolutely. For many Ultimate Hikers, this journey is personal, and you can share that story on your fundraising page. Some hikers carry the story of a child impacted by cancer, while others simply believe every child deserves the chance to grow up. Whatever brings you to the trail, there’s a place for you here.

If you’re new, we recommend attending an information session first. When you’re ready, find your hike, click Join the Ultimate Hike and choose to sign up as an individual, join a team or create a team.

You’ll get login instructions for your personal fundraising page and can start fundraising right away. Your hike lead will reach out to welcome you, and your training coach will connect with you about 14 weeks before hike day.

The fundraising minimum depends on your lodging choice:

Both options include all weekend meals, events, trail transportation and support. You’ll have the tools and support you need to reach your goal.

We recommend booking at our event hotel at our discounted group rate. You’ll be with your fellow hikers and close to Friday and Sunday events. Your hike lead will share booking details.

Six weeks before hike weekend, you’ll confirm three things:

• You’re still hiking.
• Your lodging choice (hotel or no hotel). This choice becomes final at recommitment.
• Your commitment to your fundraising minimum, signed through a short DocuSign agreement.

Recommitment gives us final numbers for lodging, meals and trail support so we can plan a great weekend for everyone.

Yes, any time up until recommitment. After that, your choice is final.

Life happens. If you decide not to continue before recommitment, every dollar you’ve raised still goes to childhood cancer research. Just let your hike lead know.

Every dollar you raise helps move the most promising childhood cancer research toward the children who need it most. CureSearch brings scientific and industry expertise together to identify promising science, invest where it can make the greatest difference, measure progress and advance research toward new treatments.

Every 80 seconds, a child is diagnosed with cancer, yet less than 10% of federal cancer research funding goes to pediatric cancer. Your miles create momentum, and your fundraising helps move science forward.

You have until 45 days after the hike to reach your fundraising minimum, so you can keep sharing your hike-day photos and story with supporters.

You won’t do it alone. Coaches, volunteers, CureSearch staff and our Ultimate Heroes (families who share their stories with hikers) are with you every step of the way. If you’re not on track, reach out to your staff partner, who will work with you one-on-one to build a plan.

Hikers have also come up with creative ideas, from bake sales to art shows and more. Sharing why you hike is one of the most powerful ways to inspire people to give.

Yes, and we strongly recommend it.

• Facebook: Connect your fundraising page to Facebook from the “Facebook” section of your page. Some hikers have raised their entire minimum in a few weeks this way. If you or a supporter starts a fundraiser directly on Facebook, let your staff partner know so the donations are credited to you.
• Instagram: Tell your staff partner before starting an Instagram fundraiser, or add your fundraising page link to your bio.

After you register, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. You can sign in anytime at classy.org/sso.

Use the password reset on the sign-in page. Still stuck? Email donorservices@curesearch.org.

Update your photo, headline and story, then set a personal URL to share with friends and family. For help, contact your event manager and include a description of the problem and screenshots. Most requests are resolved within 1–2 business days.

Because we’ve moved to a new fundraising platform, earlier participant pages are no longer available. We’re happy to help you find past donor information. Email donorservices@curesearch.org.

Yes. There’s more than one way to go the distance. You can coach, volunteer, serve as an ambassador, support a hike weekend or bring your own ideas to the trail. To find your place, contact Lauren Rump, Director of Ultimate Hike, at lauren.rump@curesearch.org.