From Survival to the Summit: Honoring the Resilience of Grandma Gatewood

Every year, the Monroe County Health Council hosts Emma’s Hike & Walk as part of our Monroe STOPe campaign. While Emma Gatewood is world-famous as the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail at age 67, her journey toward greatness began decades earlier—not on a mountain, but in a courageous fight for her life and liberty.

The Path to Freedom

Before she was a hiking icon, Emma was a survivor. For 33 years, Emma endured severe, often near-fatal physical abuse at the hands of her husband, Perry Gatewood. While raising eleven children, Emma lived in a constant state of survival, facing a level of violence that few could imagine. In an era when domestic violence was rarely discussed and even more rarely prosecuted, Emma’s resilience was tested to its limit every single day.

A Turning Point in 1939

After a brutal altercation that left her with broken ribs and shattered teeth, Emma was wrongfully arrested. However, with the intervention of a local mayor who recognized the injustice, she was finally able to escape the situation.

An Unprecedented Victory

In 1940, Emma achieved something practically unheard of for a woman in her community at the time: she successfully secured a divorce on the grounds of cruelty. This legal victory was her first "summit." It was this hard-won freedom that eventually allowed her to pick up a rucksack in 1955 and show the world that it is never too late to reclaim your life.

The Spark of a New Journey

The seeds of Emma’s famous hike were actually planted during those difficult years. While sitting in a doctor’s office waiting room, she happened to pick up a copy of National Geographic. As she flipped through the pages, a story about the Appalachian Trail caught her eye.

Unlike a fleeting whim, the image of that long, wild path stayed with her. To Emma, the trail represented the ultimate contrast to the life she had been forced to lead—a place of solitude, peace, and her own choices. In 1955, she finally acted on that spark, telling her grown children she was simply "going for a walk."

Why We Hike & Walk

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 often sought refuge in the woods and wildflowers during her years of abuse; the forest was her sanctuary long before it was her stage. We host Emma’s Hike & Walk because her story proves that domestic violence does not define a person's end—it can be the catalyst for a legendary second act. By walking together, we honor Emma’s persistence and raise vital funds to provide resources for local survivors currently seeking their own path to safety and independence.

The Challenge - 2,050 Miles for Emma

Just as Emma put one foot in front of the other to leave a life of violence behind, we challenge our community to join us in a month-long walking challenge. During the month of May we aim to walk a combined 2,050 miles—mirroring the length of the Appalachian Trail—to prove that with every step, we can move toward a future free from abuse.

Individual Challenge

• The Goal: Hike or walk and log at least 25 miles during the month of May.

• The Reward: Individuals who raise a minimum of $25 (through sponsorships or personal donations) will receive The Medal of Emma’s Honor.

• Note: Sponsorship is encouraged but not required to participate.

Team Challenge

• The Goal: Teams are challenged to set a collective goal of 250 miles hiked and documented throughout the month.

• The Reward: Teams who raise a collective total of $250 or more will receive The Medal of Emma’s Honor.

Medal Ceremony

We look forward to celebrating your incredible achievements and your support for survivors of domestic violence in Monroe County.

• When: A formal medal ceremony will be held after the event concludes on May 31st.

• Details: The specific time, date, and location are currently To Be Determined.

Registered participants will be notified via email and through our social media pages once the ceremony details are finalized.

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.

Get Creative! We want to see your team spirit. We encourage you to get creative with your team names—whether they are inspired by Emma’s journey, mountain trails, or your own path to strength. We will be awarding a Special Recognition Award at the Medal Ceremony for the most creative and inspiring team name.

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, lasting the entire month of May.

Join Monroe STOPe and hike or walk to honor Emma "Grandma" Gatewood this May.

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. 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 May!

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 OR

2. Return your completed log by email at monroehealthcouncil@gmail.com 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!

Start Your Journey

Ready to hike? Download the Emma’s Hike Action Pack. This single file contains your sponsorship request forms, team recruitment letters, and donor thank-you templates.

Download All Participant Forms Download a Log to Help Track Your Miles

To make your donation for medal eligibility, your mileage log and sponsorship contributions must be returned by June 14, 2025. All sponsored mile contributions can be made by clicking where it says: “Contribute” just above this section or by mail at P.O. Box 1119 Madisonville, TN 37354.

STEP 6. For participants who who raise a minimum of $25 (through sponsorships or personal donations) will receive The Medal of Emma’s Honor. Keep an eye out for details on the date, time, and location of the Medal Ceremony.