Walk With Me Challenge 2026

A few years ago, the selfless gift of an organ donor gave me a new liver and a second chance at life.

Because of them, I've now lived years I was never supposed to see, more time with Erin and my sons, more mornings in the woods, more ball games, more hunting trips, and lots of ordinary days that don't feel quite so ordinary anymore.

So I stay moving. I get outside. I chase the things that make me happy, and I never forget that I'm living days someone else made possible.

That's what Sunrise Steppers is about for me.

We're still here. We can still move. We got another one. So let's do something with it.

Last October, 27 people decided to walk with me. Together, Sunrise Steppers logged 8,074,409 steps and finished as the #1 TEAM in the entire Walk With Me Challenge! 

So, of course, we're walking it back.

This October, we're going after 10,000,000 STEPS.

And this year, I want us to do more than just watch the numbers climb. I want us to use those steps, get outside, have some fun, make some memories, and maybe notice a few things we normally walk right past.

So we're adding the 2026 SUNRISE STEPPERS OCTOBER CHALLENGES:

🦌 The Deer Challenge — Get a picture of a deer during one of your October walks and you'll get a special Sunrise Steppers gift personally picked out by me.

📸 First Step / Last Step — Take a picture during your October 1 walk. Go back October 31 and recreate it. Send me both and they'll be part of our end-of-challenge collage.

🌅 Chase the Sunrise — Start before sunrise and finish after it comes up.

🎃 The Great Pumpkin Challenge — Find the biggest pumpkin you can while walking. Picture required. One highly prestigious Great Pumpkin Champion will be crowned.

🥾 Get Off the Pavement — Hit a trail, dirt road, gravel road, field or woods. Just stay out of my hunting area!

🌧️ The No Excuses Walk — When October gives you a day where the couch looks better than the weather outside, get your walk in anyway. 

🔦 After Dark — Grab a flashlight or headlamp and get a walk in after sunset.

🌄 Another Sunrise Mile — Walk one intentional mile for somebody who didn't get another sunrise. 

Do all eight. Do four. Do one. No excuses!

SEND ALL PICTURES TO : 

@sunrisesteppers@gmail.com

Follow us @ : 

https://www.instagram.com/sunrisesteppers2026/#

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594989836527

Walk because you want to get healthier. Walk because you need some time outside. Walk because your kids are watching. Walk for somebody you love.

Walk because you still can.

31 days. 10,000,000 steps. Another October together.

With a grateful heart, plenty of trails left to head down, and no plans of slowing down ~ Austin. 

ANOTHER SUNRISE. ANOTHER CHANCE.

Ket (8)Sonny (2)

Walk with Me Challenge
A month-Long Challenge.

This is a month-long walking challenge where you record your daily steps to reach 10,000 steps by the end of the month. This target is recommended for maintaining healthy livers, hearts, and overall lifestyles.

Did you know that over 9 million people in the mid-south region have fatty liver disease and many don’t know it?

• If you have type II diabetes.
• If you have heavy alcohol usage.
• If you are considered obese.
• If you have high blood pressure and or high cholesterol.

You are at RISK for liver disease.

Main Objectives

• Build a consistent walking habit over 4 weeks.
• Create a foundation for continued walking throughout the year.

Team Participation

If you're part of a team, please ensure all members know the team name when signing up for this virtual month-long walk.

Tracking Progress

• A calendar for logging daily step counts will be sent to all participants at the end of September.
• Need help to count steps? Check out our Celebrity Walkers videos: https://midsouthliveralliance.org/walking-videos/.

Rewards

•  Increase your steps during the month to be entered into the drawing for gift cards.

Fundraising Impact

 Funds raised will support our Patient Liver Summits to be held in each of the 6 states during 2026, along with helping us build a patient services committee for each state.

Post your walking pictures on social media and tag #WWMC25 and #midsouthliver

Stay tuned for more information via email on the WALK WITH ME CHALLENGE!