Operation Second Stride
- Date Sat 5th September 2026
- Time 10:00AM EDT
- Location Hot Springs, North Carolina
- Price Free
- Races 1 race
- Distances Ultra
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Event summary
Join us for an inspiring event, Operation Second Stride, on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in the breathtaking Hot Springs, Madison. This remarkable journey features Jenny Jackson as she embarks on a 33-mile backpacking adventure along the Appalachian Trail, all in support of a groundbreaking ML Alpha/Beta Gene Therapy initiative. Jenny's trek not only commemorates the 11-year anniversary of her hip and pelvic reconstruction surgeries but also serves as a testament to her relentless spirit and determination to overcome the challenges posed by Mucolipidosis alpha/beta.
Throughout the hike, special moments of reflection will be celebrated at every 11-mile marker, reminding us of the resilience and hope that define Jenny’s mission. This event is a call to action for everyone to participate in a cause that embodies perseverance and progress. There are several ways to contribute, whether through prayers, sharing Jenny's story with your community, or making a donation to support her noble cause. Together, let’s celebrate strength, purpose, and the incredible journey of reclaiming life one mile at a time!
Throughout the hike, special moments of reflection will be celebrated at every 11-mile marker, reminding us of the resilience and hope that define Jenny’s mission. This event is a call to action for everyone to participate in a cause that embodies perseverance and progress. There are several ways to contribute, whether through prayers, sharing Jenny's story with your community, or making a donation to support her noble cause. Together, let’s celebrate strength, purpose, and the incredible journey of reclaiming life one mile at a time!
Organiser's Description
Join Jenny Jackson on her journey as she raises $333,000 in support an ML Alpha/Beta Gene Therapy.
Beginning September 5, 2026, Jenny Jackson, is committing to backpacking 33 miles along the Appalachian Trail to help raise $333,000 in support of a gene therapy for Mucolipidosis alpha/beta. This journey marks the 11-year anniversary of her hip and pelvic reconstruction surgeries, a milestone that will be honored throughout the hike with special moments of reflection and recognition at every 11-mile marker along the trail.
This journey, much like the cause itself, is rooted in perseverance, hope, and the determination to keep moving forward even when the path is difficult.
Living with Mucolipidosis alpha/beta has meant navigating a body that did not function the way she needed it to. Her life included long periods of recovery, adaptation, and learning to live within physical limitations. For many years, her relationship with her body was defined by pain, dependence, and long hospital stays. She relied heavily on mobility aids and caregivers, with very little independence. Severe daily pain meant that even a few minutes on her feet could be exhausting, and giving up dance, the thing that once made her feel most alive, was one of the hardest losses she faced.
Then, during college, one orthopedic surgeon changed the course of her life. Through complex joint reconstruction surgeries, he rebuilt what years of pain had damaged and gave her something she had not experienced in a long time: hope. For the first time, a life with less pain and greater possibility felt within reach.
Today, Jenny has had nine surgeries and after years of physical and occupational therapy, fitness and activity came to mean more than recovery; they became a way to rebuild trust in her body. Every challenge, every difficult mile, and every moment of pushing through discomfort became a reminder that growth, strength, and progress were still possible, even if they looked different than before.
This challenge is deeply personal to Jenny. It represents reclaiming strength through discipline, effort, and purpose. Every mile symbolizes resilience over perfection, and progress over limitation.
We hope youll tune along throughout here journey, and help support her mission.
How You Can Help:
1. Pray
Pray for the children impacted and pray for my journey
2. Share
Share my page. Tell your community.
3. Give
Give from your heart. Even just $1 makes a difference.
How You Can Give:
Donate securely online through this page (transaction fees apply)
Checks (especially for gifts of $500+) may be made payable to:
National MPS Society
Memo: Jennifer Jackson
P.O. Box 14686
Durham, NC 27709
Beginning September 5, 2026, Jenny Jackson, is committing to backpacking 33 miles along the Appalachian Trail to help raise $333,000 in support of a gene therapy for Mucolipidosis alpha/beta. This journey marks the 11-year anniversary of her hip and pelvic reconstruction surgeries, a milestone that will be honored throughout the hike with special moments of reflection and recognition at every 11-mile marker along the trail.
This journey, much like the cause itself, is rooted in perseverance, hope, and the determination to keep moving forward even when the path is difficult.
Living with Mucolipidosis alpha/beta has meant navigating a body that did not function the way she needed it to. Her life included long periods of recovery, adaptation, and learning to live within physical limitations. For many years, her relationship with her body was defined by pain, dependence, and long hospital stays. She relied heavily on mobility aids and caregivers, with very little independence. Severe daily pain meant that even a few minutes on her feet could be exhausting, and giving up dance, the thing that once made her feel most alive, was one of the hardest losses she faced.
Then, during college, one orthopedic surgeon changed the course of her life. Through complex joint reconstruction surgeries, he rebuilt what years of pain had damaged and gave her something she had not experienced in a long time: hope. For the first time, a life with less pain and greater possibility felt within reach.
Today, Jenny has had nine surgeries and after years of physical and occupational therapy, fitness and activity came to mean more than recovery; they became a way to rebuild trust in her body. Every challenge, every difficult mile, and every moment of pushing through discomfort became a reminder that growth, strength, and progress were still possible, even if they looked different than before.
This challenge is deeply personal to Jenny. It represents reclaiming strength through discipline, effort, and purpose. Every mile symbolizes resilience over perfection, and progress over limitation.
We hope youll tune along throughout here journey, and help support her mission.
How You Can Help:
1. Pray
Pray for the children impacted and pray for my journey
2. Share
Share my page. Tell your community.
3. Give
Give from your heart. Even just $1 makes a difference.
How You Can Give:
Donate securely online through this page (transaction fees apply)
Checks (especially for gifts of $500+) may be made payable to:
National MPS Society
Memo: Jennifer Jackson
P.O. Box 14686
Durham, NC 27709
Races
-
Operation Second Stride
Sat 5th September 2026 (10:00AM EDT)
Free
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Location
Appalachian Trail, Hot Springs, 28743, NC, United States
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Operation Second Stride
