Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

If you know me already, you probably think of me as an active adventurer; an avid outdoor educator who loves to travel, hike, and camp. Swimming, kayaking, roller skating, and petting any cat in a three mile range. What you don't see is how the things I love started getting harder and harder for me and I didn't understand why. My body wasn't working right, and doctors wrote much of it off. Instead of the hiking trail, I was in a hospital bed. Instead of working as a seasonal park ranger, I was home using mobility aids. In the long run, it took me 22 years to get diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder. But this fundraiser isn't for me, it's for the charity I believe will fix the disparity in diagnosing, managing, research, and awareness: The Ehlers-Danlos Society. They are a global community dedicated to saving and improving the lives of those affected by the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and related conditions. 

They proudly work to provide global learning conferences, collaborative research and education initiatives, awareness campaigns, advocacy, community-building, and care for the EDS and HSD population. 

Many of you have probably never heard of this condition, so please, join me as I take a huge step and road trip, mostly solo, for 52 days around the American West, visiting National Parks and other public lands, while raising funds, awareness, and advocacy for hEDS and HSD. After years of pain and fatigue, this trip will be a challenge, but I want to bring you along to learn about these conditions, parks, and my personal journey. Please, lend your eyes, ears, and wallets, to help support this cause that will change lives. 

Your donation goes directly to the Ehlers-Danlos Society. If you understandably can't donate, please share to help me out and spread the word. If you are able to donate, I would love to send you a postcard while on the road. Email your mailing address to haylanteel@yahoo.com

Thank you!