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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Youth across Northwest Colorado are facing a mental health crisis unlike anything we’ve seen before. Rates of depression, anxiety, and isolation among young people in our region are higher than state, national, and even global averages. In response to this urgent need, Prescription for the Arts, a program of Undiscovered Earth, is teaming up with Northwest Colorado Health’s Youth Resiliency Program to launch an ambitious and inspiring fundraiser: the 50-Day Challenge.

The Challenge is simple in concept, but powerful in impact: participants commit to either hiking up to 500 miles or biking up to 1,000 miles in just 50 days. Why these numbers? They reflect the endurance, dedication, and resilience it takes not only to complete the Challenge but also to navigate the difficult terrain of mental health struggles. Through every mile traveled, participants will raise awareness — and crucial funds — to support programs that help local youth build confidence, find connection, and develop the tools to face life’s challenges through arts experiences.

If you are a participant, you have people sponsor you for every mile you walk. They can set the price, for example, $1 per mile or $0.10 per mile; they only pay based on the number of miles you make. We have hats and bracelets available for attendees to wear, making the event easily identifiable. Each participant tracks their own miles and logs them on our site. 50-day-walk-bike-challenge.causevox.com

The goal of the Challenge is to raise $25,000 to directly benefit Prescription for the Arts and the Youth Resiliency Program. Both organizations are committed to reaching young people where they are: in classrooms, after-school programs, and community spaces, offering creative outlets, mental health support, and opportunities for healing through art, nature, and movement.

Prescription for the Arts helps youth struggling with mental health challenges by working with mental health professionals to prescribe free arts-based experiences — from writing and painting to dance and music — that promote emotional wellbeing, reduce isolation, and provide healthy ways to cope with anxiety and depression. The program works hand-in-hand with local healthcare providers and schools to ensure that students who need these resources most have easy and stigma-free access to them.

Similarly, Northwest Colorado Health’s Youth Resiliency Program supports kindergarten through college-age youth by providing age-appropriate activities that help participants reframe situations, enabling them to navigate the coping process more effectively and reconnect with their confidence going forward. They help kids learn to communicate their emotions in a safe and comfortable setting, providing the opportunity to connect with peers who have experienced similar challenges. During these gatherings, participants build self-esteem and self-awareness through creative expression.

During small-group interaction, they also develop nervous system regulation through experiential art and music activities. Additionally, youth-serving professionals are trained in trauma-informed practices to support the resilience of caregivers.
Together, these organizations form a lifeline for local students who are struggling — offering them creative, compassionate, and concrete support.

Whether you’re an avid hiker, a weekend cyclist, or someone simply looking for a meaningful reason to get moving, the 50-Day Challenge offers a way to turn your personal health journey into a force for good. Every step and every mile will help fund programs that transform the lives of youth who need it most.

Ready to make a difference?

Visit UndiscoveredEarth.org to learn more about the 50-Day Challenge, sign up, and start your journey. Together, we can move mountains — for ourselves, for our community, and the future of our youth.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.