Emma Gatewood survived an abusive marriage for thirty years while she raised eleven children. One day she was sitting in a doctor’s office waiting room and happened to pick up a National Geographic. While she flipped through the pages, a story caught her attention and unlike a fleeting whim or fancy, Emma’s impression of the Appalachian Trail stayed with her.

It stuck with her so much that in 1955, at the age of 67, Emma Gatewood packed some beef jerky, bouillon cubes, crackers, tennis shoes, and pants into a cardboard box. She told the kids she was going for a walk and hopped on a bus to the Appalachian Trail. 

Once she left the bus, Emma changed out of her traveling dress and shoes, put on her walking clothes, and stuffed everything she owned into a handmade denim rucksack.

Her life to that point had been one of a wife and mother living in survival mode and doing the best she could do get through each day without being physically abused by her husband. Emma had spent a lifetime putting one foot in front of the other as a survivor. The day she set foot on the Appalachian Trail, Emma’s story changed. Like the trail before her, Emma’s future was unknown. She would still put one foot in front of the other but this time each step took her in the direction of her own choosing. The trail was a blank slate that fed her soul. She had often sought refuge in the woods, wildflowers, wildlife, and solitude during her years in an abusive marriage. It had kept her moving forward for decades. 

In 1955, no woman had ever walked the entire trail alone from one end to the other. That year, Emma walked from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katadihn in Maine completing the 2050 miles between May and September of that year. 

Today, Emma’s story has been shared time and again. Her story never gets old and it never ceases to inspire. 

Every year, the Monroe County Health Council hosts a Monroe STOPe campaign in Emma’s honor. The month-long initiative’s goal is to promote domestic violence advocacy awareness and overall health by motivating county residents to walk.

Emma's courage, resilience, and persistence have traditionally been celebrated by hiking the trail at Indian Boundary, located in the Appalachian Mountains, with visuals and inspiration posted along the trail. In 2022, the campaign to honor Emma Gatewood expanded to include a month-long, community walking challenge where county residents are encouraged to walk a combined total of 2050 miles, mirroring Emma’s first journey. This year’s kickoff event will be held on May 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at Kefauver Park’s large pavilion. Arrive early to the kickoff event to claim your giveaways as quantities are limited!

Participants are challenged to hike & log at least 25 miles during the month of May in honor of Emma Gatewood. Participants are encouraged to seek sponsorship for their miles, however, sponsorship isn’t required to participate. Participants who have a minimum of $25 or more in sponsored miles will receive The Medal of Emma's Honor.

Hike or walk as an individual or as a team. Teams are challenged to set a collective goal of 250 hiked and documented throughout the month. Teams who have $250 or more of sponsorships or personal donations will receive The Medal of Emma's Honor.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Individual Hike for Emma

$10 Registration Fee

Participants are challenged to hike & log at least 25 miles during the month of May in honor of Emma Gatewood, a survivor of domestic violence and the 1st woman to ever hike the entire Appalachian trail alone at 67 years old!

Participants who either accumulate a minimum of $25 in sponsored miles or make a personal donation of $25 or more will be awarded a Medal of Emma's Honor.

• Does your company offer a matching gift program? If so, your gift my be doubled. Please check with your employer.

  
  

Team Up for Emma

$10 Individual Registration Fee Per Member Required

Teams are challenged to set a collective goal of 250 hiked and documented throughout the month of May in honor of Emma Gatewood, a survivor of domestic violence and the 1st woman to ever hike the entire Appalachian trail alone at 67 years old!

Teams who either accumulate a minimum of $250 in sponsored miles or make a personal donation of $250 or more will be awarded a Medal of Emma's Honor.

• Does your company offer a matching gift program? If so, your gift my be doubled. Please check with your employer.

Contribute/Sponsor a Hiker

Sponsor a hiker or team by contributing $25 or more, with the option to specify the hiker or team of your choice HERE.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION:

This is a self-paced, domestic violence, awareness event led by the Monroe County Health Council to benefit survivors of domestic violence in Monroe County through the Monroe STOPe program.

Join Monroe STOPe and hike to honor Emma "Grandma" Gatewood.

We will kick off a month-long celebration of Emma's courage, resilience, and persistence by challenging others to join us in walking a combined total of 2050 miles on the trails and tracks of Monroe County during the month of the campaign (traditionally May). The challenge will continue virtually throughout the month of May as others hike and post their "Miles Walked for Emma" in celebration of their participation and contributions.

STEP 1. Register to participate in Emma’s Hike!

STEP 2. Participate in this event wherever you are, on trails or walking tracks, or in your local neighborhood throughout the month of the campaign! Join us at Kefauver Park’s large pavilion to kick things off on May 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.! We will be offering giveaways on a first-come, first-served basis with limited quantities available. Take pictures & share them with us on Facebook!

STEP 3. Keep a record of your total mileage over the month of May by documenting your ‘hikes’. Click HERE for a mileage log template to use.

STEP 4. Be sure your miles are counted toward the overall event goal of 2,050 miles by submitting your mileage log in ANY of the following ways:

1. Take a picture of your completed log & send it to us in a Facebook message at https://www.facebook.com/MonroeSTOPe ,

2. Return your completed log by email at pye.mchc@gmail , or

3. Mail your completed log to us at: P.O. Box 1119 Madisonville, TN 37354.

STEP 5. For participants who are willing to seek sponsored miles, use any of the following documents to assist in your efforts! Thank you for your support!

Emma’s Hike Sponsorship Ask Letter

Emma’s Hike Team Member Recruiting Letter

Emma’s Hike Donor Thank You Letter

To make your donation for medal eligibility, your mileage log and sponsorship contributions must be returned by June 14, 2024. All sponsored mile contributions can be made at the bottom of this page where it says: “Contribute” or by mail at P.O. Box 1119 Madisonville, TN 37354.