HIKE FOR LIFE is Texas' oldest Pro Life event.

The Hike has been going on since October 1973. It is Texas' oldest Pro Life event. Its mission is to raise funds for crisis pregnancy centers in the areas where the Hikes are held, and seeks to raise awareness that these Crisis Centers need our support both financially and prayerfully. Back in the 70's it was a Knights of Columbus Council event having been started by a group of Knights in Garland who were tired of hearing all the positive attention that legalized abortion was getting in the media. They decided to have a mass rally to show that abortion was not the correct "choice" and that there were loving options for moms who found themselves with an “Unplanned Pregnancy". Headed up by Chuck Schumacher, Ed Hubbuch, and several other dedicated Knights, the Hike for Life became "the" Pro Life event in the Dallas area. It has continued each year since 1973 and is now known as "Texas' oldest Pro Life event". In 1985 Hike for Life, Inc. was formed. This non-profit organization was given control over the Hike so that anyone donating to the Hike could use it as a tax deduction, and so that people who were not Knights could assist in the running of it.

The original Hike was a single event site in Garland. After a few years the Hike was moved to White Rock Lake in Dallas. It was moved back to Garland in the mid '90's and the "original site" is now located at Audubon Park.

In 2002 Tom Clark became President of Hike for Life and continues to serve in that capacity today.

In 2003 a new Board of Directors was formed to come up with new ideas and a fresh approach to appeal to a new set of Hikers. Bike Marshals were added to give Hikers quick access to assistance if problems were to arise, additional sponsors were sought after to help “grow the Hike”, and Hikers were treated to a new t-shirt design each year.

Since 2003 several Hikes have been added around the Dallas area with Hikes now in Garland, Dallas (two locations), Waxahachie, and McKinney.

Also in 2009 the Hike branched outside of the Dallas Diocese for the first time with a Hike in College Station, Texas. This was a trial Hike to see if it could be replicated and to see what issues would arise. The College Station Hike, although small in numbers, gained $2,000 for the Good Samaritan Crisis Center.

In early 2010 another first was realized for the Hike as we branched into the Fort Worth Diocese with a Hike in Weatherford. In January of 2010 the Weatherford Hike took place netting $7,000 for Grace House Ministries, a Crisis Center in Weatherford. Also in October 2010 we hosted a Hike in Denton with those funds going to assist the Loreto House. Money collected as a result of the various Hikes will go to serve the area Pregnancy Resource Center(s), Maternity Homes and other Pro Life Ministries where the Hike is held. If you are a Director of a PRC in Texas needing assistance please contact hikeforlifetexas@gmail.com to discuss the possibilities of the Hike assisting you, or forming a Hike for Life in your area.

As the Hike moves further into the new millennium the need for the Hike has increased. Too many people feel that abortion is okay; after all if you have been born since 1973 it has always been the law of the land. By providing monetary and prayerful resources, and increased awareness, the Hike is able to help Pregnancy Resource Centers do their job a little better!

You can help bring innocent lives into this world of ours… please pray for the success of the Hike and it’s benefactors. Please consider volunteering your time and come to the Hike… please bring a friend.

Together we can make a difference, together we can touch and save many lives! Please be a part of the Hike for Life in your community. If there isn’t a Hike near you, and you feel the Holy Spirit is calling you to change this, please contact me and we can discuss the possibilities of bringing the Hike for Life to your part of the world.

Please be part of the Hike this year, and every year.