Cedar's Birthday Backpack Challenge

As many of you know, August is my birthday month, and this year I’m turning 63. To mark the occasion, I’ve created a fundraiser called the Birthday Backpack Challenge. My goal is to walk 63 miles over the month, while carrying a fully loaded backpack — both to raise funds for C-U at Home and to bring attention to the experiences of the people we serve.

For many of our clients, a backpack is a symbol of survival. It holds everything — clothes, food, hygiene items, medications, even legal documents. It’s often carried day and night to prevent theft. And while that backpack represents the struggle of homelessness, it also speaks to the journey our clients are on — a journey toward stability, dignity, and healing.

This challenge is about more than steps and donations. It’s about honoring our clients’ courage and showing the community what hope in motion looks like.