Frank Gioscia, 68, is training for his tenth CureSearch Hike while raising $113,000 for children’s cancer research! He has done it by lacing up his hiking boots and hitting the trails at CureSearch Ultimate Hike events.
“It was easy for me to get involved with CureSearch. In July 2011, a friend handed me a flyer about the Ultimate Hike. I went to a meeting and the rest is history,” Frank shared. Shortly after he got started, the young son of a family friend was diagnosed with cancer. He was just 6 years old. “I’ve been hiking for Gavin for years. Thankfully, he has been remission for 5 years now. The truth is, I hike for all children with cancer.”
This will be Frank’s tenth year hiking to help fund cutting-edge childhood cancer research. For the first three years, he trekked the Foothills Trail in South Carolina. Then he went on to master the Tecumseh Trail in Indiana for 6 years. In 2020, he plans to return to South Carolina to tackle the Southeast Ultimate Hike on the Foothills Trail.
“I keep coming back because it is such a great cause. It is life changing for me. You don’t know how blessed you are until you see what these families are going through. I have two children and grandchildren. With CureSearch, I can give back to families who need it.”
The 68-year-old stays in prime shape through his passion of hiking which he does year-round in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, which is less than an hour from his home. “With CureSearch, my hiking took on new meaning. As I finish an Ultimate Hike, I see all of the pictures of the kids who are fighting cancer and those who lost their battle. I am so thankful that I can do this for them. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.”
CureSearch Ultimate Hikes take place on iconic trails across the country to raise funds for the most promising children’s cancer research. Learn more.
For 30 years, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer has worked tirelessly to accelerate the development of more effective, less-toxic children’s cancer treatments. Learn more about the progress we are making thanks to the incredible support of volunteers and advocates like FrankGioscia.
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