Operation Second Stride

Beginning September 5, 2026, Jenny Jackson, is committing to backpacking 33 miles along a segment of the Appalachian Trail to help raise $333,000 in support of a gene therapy for Mucolipidosis alpha/beta. This journey marks the 11-year anniversary of her hip and pelvic reconstruction surgeries, a milestone that will be honored throughout the hike with special moments of reflection and recognition at every 11-mile marker along the trail.

​

This journey, much like the cause itself, is rooted in perseverance, hope, and the determination to keep moving forward even when the path is difficult.

​

Living with Mucolipidosis alpha/beta has meant navigating a body that did not function the way she needed it to. Her life included long periods of recovery, adaptation, and learning to live within physical limitations.  For many years, her relationship with her body was defined by pain, dependence, and long hospital stays.  She relied heavily on mobility aids and caregivers, with very little independence. Severe daily pain meant that even a few minutes on her feet could be exhausting, and giving up dance, the thing that once made her feel most alive, was one of the hardest losses she faced.

​

Then, during college, one orthopedic surgeon changed the course of her life. Through complex joint reconstruction surgeries, he rebuilt what years of pain had damaged and gave her something she had not experienced in a long time: hope. For the first time, a life with less pain and greater possibility felt within reach.

 

Today, Jenny has had 9 surgeries and after years of physical therapy and occupation therapy,  physical fitness and activity eventually became more than recovery. They became a way to rebuild trust in her body. Every challenge, every difficult mile, and every moment of pushing through discomfort became a reminder that growth, strength, and progress were still possible, even if they looked different than before.

 

This Appalachian Trail challenge is deeply personal. It represents reclaiming strength through discipline, effort, and purpose. Every mile symbolizes resilience over perfection, and progress over limitation.