Phew!

This past week has been a whirlwind of amazing developments!
Channel 10 News WSLS did a segment on the hike at 7:00 p.m. today under "Making a Difference".  If you'd like to see the video, you can check it out at:

News Channel 10 WSLS Segment

The Virginian Review ran an article in this past Saturday's paper and I must say that Darrell did an absolutely amazing job at conveying exactly how I'm feeling about this journey.

Alleghany Regional Hospital will be holding 2 bake sales, one on June 22nd and one on July 15th, in order to donate to the cause.  I was a Teen Volunteer there for many years and I'm so excited that the current Teen Volunteers are helping me.  My mother and I are going to be baking some goodies to take over there the morning of the 22nd and my mother is the best baker I know ;)

I am still getting all of my gear together, but I will definitely be leaving for Maine at the end of this month!  

I am so blessed to be a part of a community that is so loving and supportive :)  

<3 Amber

Reclaiming My Strength

Hello all!

I would like to go into a little more detail as to why I am pursuing this hike.  As I explained in the previous post, my father had wanted to do this hike himself.  He really made me fall in love with the idea of such an experience.  Prior to his death, I had wanted to do the hike and video tape or take pictures along the way to show him so that he could have the experience and would feel like he had done it too.  However, I did not have a chance to do it due to my educational endeavors.  When he passed away I vowed that I would still hike the A.T. for him. 

I was working on my Masters degree in Oriental Medicine when my father passed away.  The past year since his death has been somewhat of a lost year to me.  I felt like the wind was knocked out of me and I just couldn't catch my breath again.  I really lost sight of my own strength and found myself at what seemed to be the bottom of a pit that I couldn't possibly climb out of.  It has only been recently that I have been seeing strength in myself again.  I can't explain how good it feels to see again the things that I love about life and myself.  This hike is me reclaiming my strength.  The chance to be able to do such a big thing in my life- to push myself to keep moving forward, to honor my father, to find beauty and happiness in even the smallest things, and to prove to myself that I can do anything if I put my mind to it- means the world to me.

I am extending my hope to be able to have a chance to hike the A.T. out to all of you.  I cannot do this without you.  Please help me make my dream a reality!  Even just $5 or $10 goes a long way if I can find enough people to believe in me and this cause.  Any donations made to the hike itself that are not used for the hike will automatically be donated to the American Heart Association.

For an idea of what I am needing in order to make this possible, here is a rough list starting with the most important
-Hiking pack
-Tent
-Sleeping bag and mat
-A lightweight stove
-A rain jacket & pants
-Headlamp, trowel, hiking socks
-Food bag, rope, DEET/bugspray
-Food, hostel stays, camping fees (during the 6 months)

I have less than 3 weeks now to come up with enough support to be able to start the hike.  If you believe in me or in doing things for love, strength, and a greater purpose, please be a heart hiker with me and help me make this possible! 

I thank you with all that I am and  am sending love out to you all.

In all that you do, do it with heart <3

-Amber

The Beginnings of the Hike

Hello All!

My name is Amber Ballard and I am starting my southbound thru hike on the Appalachian Trail at the beginning of July.  I recently decided to do this hike for my father, who had always wanted to do it with me.  My father, Porter Ballard, was quite honestly the most amazing man I've ever known in my life.  He had a laugh that could carry happiness straight into your soul and the ability to give so much love, even with just a simple smile.  I was 6 years old when he was diagnosed with heart disease, underwent bypass surgery, and was given only a few years to live.  He had several heart attacks after that, but my father was a fighter!  When his heart would give him trouble he would say that his little heart loved so much that it just couldn't handle it.  He beat the odds and lived for 17 years after the initial diagnosis.  It was only a year ago when he left this world due to the heart disease, but I still carry his love with me wherever I go.  I know that he will be walking with me and rooting me on during the hike.  In honor of his memory, I have dedicated this hike to the American Heart Association.  I am hoping that with each step I can help to raise money and awareness for the AHA.

The countdown to the beginning of the hike has begun!  I will start in Maine at the beginning of July and work my way down to Georgia.  A thru hike of the Appalachian Trail will take me approximately 5-6 months and over that span of time I will be covering more than 2,180 miles by foot.  My father told me that the true beauty and spirit of this country can be found out in nature, in places like the Appalachian Trail.  It has been hiked by thousands of people before from all sorts of backgrounds, in all stages of life, each hoping to let go of or gain something different.  Some do it as a respite from the modern, fast-paced life, some do it for spiritual purposes, some do it because they don't know exactly what to do next, but no matter why people do it, everyone will come off of the Appalachian Trail having learned a few lessons and having experienced a new type of splendor.  All of this is extremely exciting to me, but at the same time I am nervous about the hike itself.  If you know me, then you know that I'm not an outdoor adventures guru, I've only ever camped out with my father or with some girlfriends, and I've definitely never hiked for more than 5 miles at a time.  The idea of being out in the woods walking roughly 15 miles day after day for months on end is a little bit out there, even for me.  However, I have been talking about doing this hike for my father ever since his death and it is high time for me to put my money where my mouth is!  I know that this is going to be a difficult journey (with many sore muscles and blisters to prove it!), but just the thought of my father being there with me melts all of those worries away.

I am asking for help in this journey!  If you'd like to help, you can do so in many ways:  I believe in the power of prayer and I am asking for all the prayers possible for a safe journey and for guidance along the way (also please pray for my sweet mother to have her mind at ease and not to worry too much!)  The hike itself will cost a total of about $4,000 on average, and I am asking for help with raising money for the hike and for the American Heart Association.
I will be setting Paypal up on this blog soon and any donations are greatly appreciated!  A direct link to donate to the American Heart Association will be provided come Tuesday!

In all that you do, do it with heart :)