“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

Born and raised in the suburbs of New York, I spent much of my young life being drawn to the excitement and pulse of New York City. Upon high school graduation, I hesitantly made the trek north into the Hudson Valley where I discovered that my love for the outdoors ran deeper than just tagging along on hikes and building snow forts with my sister in the woods behind our childhood home. Instantly falling in love with the mountains surrounding the quaint college town of New Paltz, I spent the next three years devoting as much time to exploring, climbing, rafting and skydiving the region as I did to my psychology studies.

In addition to outdoor and conservation activities, my leading passions are found in music and in helping others through volunteer and charity work. While the love and appreciation for all things musical took hold at a young age, the philanthropic attraction set in a bit later and was sparked by college evenings spent volunteering at a crisis center for abused women and their children. While those nights assisting at the center were some of my most difficult ones to date, the realization that one person truly can make a difference in the life of another, even through the smallest actions, is a life lesson never to be forgotten.

My introduction to Love.Hope.Strength came about purely by accident. A quiet night in of movie watching led me to the Everest Rocks documentary, and it resonated so deeply that the decision was made instantly to join in one of these amazing adventures. The blending of fund raising for such an important cause with a challenging hike, live music and cross-country travel makes Pikes Peak Rocks the perfect package.

This hike is dedicated to my grandfather, Frank Moeller, Sr.