Worcester Resident and Cancer Survivor Tom Walsh Embarking on Annual Charity Hike Challenge to Support Cancer Patients

On August 1, 2026, Tom Walsh of Worcester, NY, will embark on his seventh annual charity hike challenge to raise awareness and funds in support of our network's cancer patients.

Tom credits Bassett Healthcare Network with saving his life twice. He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2018 and during his treatment for that cancer, he was admitted to the ICU with a type of pneumonia. He survived both and slowly built his strength back up so that he could hike again.

"I feel I'm here for a reason. I feel that I'm supposed to do something and part of that is be with my family and the other part is to help people," says Tom. "I have three reasons to hike. The first one is to raise money, the second one is to raise awareness, and the third one is to challenge myself personally. The first one I did; I'd never done anything like that in my life before. It was a true challenge."

For seven years now, Tom has been completing an annual thru-hike for charity each summer. This year, he plans to take on the Northville-Placid Trail southbound. He calls it unfinished business, since he tackled the same trail in the opposite direction back in 2025. The trail is 138 miles long and Tom predicts the entire challenge will take him about two weeks.

All the funding Tom raises this year will be split evenly between Otsego Outdoors, a collaborative effort of four environmental organizations to connect residents and visitors with Otsego County's publicly accessible, year-round opportunities to connect with nature, and Friends of Bassett's Bob Simon & Loretta Anagnost Patient Assistance Fund. This fund covers non-medical costs cancer patients face as they are receiving treatment, which can include prescriptions, travel expenses, and other unmet financial needs.

Bassett Healthcare Network and Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network are so thankful for Tom's generosity and adventurous spirit. To make a donation, please click here.