In the late summer of 2025, an extraordinary fundraising effort took shape in the Rocky Mountains — one that was as physically demanding as it was deeply personal.
The “Faith for Hayden Climb,” led by Hayden Faith Blickley’s father, Matt, set out with a meaningful goal: to raise $14,000 for Schaaf-Yang Syndrome (SYS) research. By the end of the journey, community support had propelled that figure past $50,000 — a powerful testament to the love surrounding Hayden and the urgent need to advance medical understanding of this rare genetic disorder.
Hayden, born in 2021, lives with SYS and is challenged by developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. For Matt, climbing mountains for SYS research wasn’t just symbolic; it mirrored the uphill battles his daughter faces daily.
Reflecting on the experience, Matt described the climb — which involved nearly 23 miles of terrain, more than 7,000 feet of elevation gain, and frigid early-morning ascents — through four themes:
1. Mountain climbing is hard.
With most of the route above 11,500 feet and oxygen levels nearly 40% lower than at sea level, the physical toll was immense. Even months of targeted training couldn’t fully prepare him for the intensity. “It’s an extreme sport,” his doctor had cautioned — and by the second dawn wake-up, it was clear just how right that was.
2. Mountain climbing is unpredictable.
Carefully crafted plans changed in an instant due to weather shifts in the Rockies. On their first summit day, the group was forced to turn around within 900 feet of Mt. Harvard’s peak due to threatening early-morning storms — an uncommon but dangerous scenario. Subsequent attempts involved recalculating objectives, managing fatigue, and even using improvised strategies to get enough calories at high altitudes.
3. Mountain climbing is rewarding.
Despite setbacks, the summit brought a deep sense of fulfillment — not only from the physical accomplishment, but from the knowledge that each step carried purpose. Standing on the peak was an emotional reminder of Hayden’s persistence in the face of her own daily challenges. “She climbs her own mountains every day,” Matt reflected, “and approaches each one with joy and determination.”
4. Everything in life takes support from others.
While mountain climbing might seem like an individual endeavor, this climb proved otherwise. From donors and well-wishers to fellow climber Chris — Matt’s brother and a more experienced mountaineer — support was woven into every aspect of the journey. Matt recalled not only Chris’s guidance during the expedition, but also his unwavering presence in the early days after Hayden’s diagnosis, when he had taken time off work to help care for the family.
For Matt, the Faith for Hayden Climb was more than an endurance feat — it was living proof that determination, community, and love can move mountains, both literal and figurative. The $50,000 raised will directly fund cutting-edge SYS research through FPWR, with the hope of accelerating breakthroughs that can change the course of Hayden’s future and that of others living with this rare disorder.
To learn more about the climb and the significant impact the Blickley family has had on SYS research, readers are encouraged to visit Matt Blickley’s personal blog on the Faith for Hayden website.