Mark your calendars!  In just two months Prime Time for Women will host the 5^th Annual Grandma Gatewood Legacy Hike and Birthday Bash! On Saturday, October 26^th we will celebrate Emma “Grandma” Gatewood’s birthday and her determination, perseverance, resilience, and belief in herself!  Gatewood was the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, which she accomplished at the tender young age of 67!

Though she was a survivor of horrific domestic violence that left her hospitalized many times, she never gave up on her dreams. When she was discouraged from hiking the 2,091 miles of the trail, she did it anyway! She was not limited by the perceptions of others. Grandma Gatewood embraced challenges as adventures and pursued possibilities rather than probabilities. It’s no wonder that I jokingly refer to her as the “poster woman” for Prime Time for Women.

This year we will gather at Washington Monument State Park on Saturday October 26th to literally and figuratively follow in the footsteps of this remarkable and inspiring woman. This fundraiser supports Prime Time for Women’s efforts to provide free programs that foster positive social connections, healthy aging, lifelong learning and healthy lifestyles.

Check out our website for more information! Registration opens on September 5, 2025!