Written by Brecka Putnam, Senior Regional Manager, Development
Toni Petrillo, a pediatric intensive care physician at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, spends her days treating children in the Intensive Care Unit. Yet, she feels she can do more.
“As a pediatric physician, I see far too many kids and their families’ lives changed by children’s cancer. I see more than my share of deaths. While my team and I do everything we can fighting for these kids daily in the trenches, it just isn’t enough.”
To do more, Dr. Petrillo is lacing up her hiking boots to train for the Ultimate Hike, a 28-mile trek to benefit children’s cancer research, and she’ll finish in just one day. She knew the hike benefited a great cause, but she didn’t think she could hike 28 miles in one day. Finally, she told herself “no more excuses” and joined the team.
Dr. Petrillo draws strength from children she’s seen fight cancer, knowing that if they can endure chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, she can endure the miles. “One little guy in particular touched my heart. Creed was an amazing little guy and he earned his angel wings way too early,” recalls Petrillo. Hiking is her way of paying tribute to Creed and others. Petrillo completed three different Ultimate Hikes in 2016, each 28 miles or more.
Dr. Petrillo is joined on the Foothills Trail by dozens of other people, each with their own story. Some are parents of children with cancer, some are endurance athletes looking for a new challenge, and some are people who take it on as a New Year’s resolution.
“You will meet extraordinary people along the way,” says Petrillo. “Hear stories of courage and survival. Stories that inspire you to keep going.”
Now Dr. Petrillo is helping to recruit the 2017 class of Ultimate Hikers. People interested in learning more should go here to learn about the event and information sessions.
In its seventh year, CureSearch’s Ultimate Hike is the original endurance fundraiser on the Foothills Trail, and the only endurance hiking fundraiser to fight cancer, the number one disease killer of children.
To find a Hike near you, visit ultimatehike.org.
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