Some of the most valuable parts of a hike cannot be measured in feet or miles. There is time to talk, space to listen, and a shared reason to keep going. That was part of the experience Tom Carlson described after hiking Blodgett Peak with Jason Allred and Andrew Hartman of Baseline: Veteran Family Dynamics.
The group covered nearly 3,000 feet of elevation in about three hours. In his recap, Tom emphasized not only the physical challenge but also the conversations, encouragement, and camaraderie. It is a concrete example of what we hope the RiseUP Elevation Challenge can make room for: people connecting around a purpose beyond their individual goals.
Meet Baseline: Veteran Family Dynamics
Baseline: Veteran Family Dynamics focuses on strengthening veterans and their families. Its approach brings together outdoor experiences, communication, and connection, with attention to the family around a veteran as well as the veteran themselves.
The organization describes its work as distinct from diagnosing or treating people. That distinction is important: a community experience should not be presented as a replacement for clinical care, and no single activity can represent every family’s needs.
Visit Baseline’s About page to learn more about its perspective and the people behind the organization.
A shared belief in the importance of support
Baseline and RiseUP serve different communities, but the collaboration connects around a familiar question: what helps people feel supported within daily life?
At RiseUP, our Adult Family Caregiver Program supports care within the family home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Baseline’s focus is veteran-family dynamics. Partnering in a fundraising campaign does not make those services interchangeable or imply that veterans as a group need disability services.
Instead, the challenge introduces each community to another organization with a meaningful mission. A veteran-family supporter can discover RiseUP, and a RiseUP supporter can learn about Baseline’s work. The Blodgett hike illustrates how that introduction can happen through conversation as well as through a donation link.
Make your September goal meaningful
During September 1-30, 2026, RiseUP Elevation Challenge participants work toward 5,000 feet of elevation or 15 miles of distance. You can walk, hike, run, climb, stroll, or roll in line with the challenge guidance.
The Blodgett outing was one group’s experience, not a pace or route every participant is expected to match. Your goal can be built through multiple activities over the month.
When registering, choose Baseline: Veteran Family Dynamics from the participating nonprofit options. Half of the proceeds raised through your participant page support the nonprofit you select. That turns your individual effort into an invitation for others to support a cause you care about.
Invite support without requiring a personal disclosure
A fundraising page can simply explain that you value connection for veterans and their families. You do not have to share someone else’s service history, health information, or difficult experiences to make the request meaningful.
A family or friend group could create a team, share progress, and invite donations through their personal pages. Others can offer encouragement or pass along the campaign. Our fundraising and outreach tips provide ideas for keeping the ask clear and respectful.
Keep the conversation going
The opportunity is not limited to people who joined the Blodgett hike. Supporters in Colorado Springs, Denver, and other Colorado communities can participate, donate, or learn about Baseline’s work.
Explore Baseline: Veteran Family Dynamics or visit the Elevation Challenge. Let the movement goal be a starting point for the connection, support, and community you want to help build.
