I'm a Canalway Challenge Ambassador. Challenges range from 1-360 miles. Register your Challenge and/or ask for more information!
Lisa and Jim Saunders seen completing their 360-mile Canalway Challenge walk with their "end-to-ender" sign at the Erie Canal "East End" marker in Albany on April 23, 2025.I volunteer as a Canalway Challenge Ambassador to encourage folks to register for their own Erie Canalway Challenge! The Erie Canal, which runs between Buffalo and Albany, is celebrating its Bicentennial in 2025 so it's a great time to embark on your own Challenge, which can range from 1-360 miles.
My husband, Jim, and I just finished walking 360 miles to complete our Canalway Challenge on April 23, 2025. It took us five years, but now we can truthfully sing, "ev'ry inch of the way I know, From Albany to Buffalo" -- a line from the famous song, "Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal." I have since updated my picture book, "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV," which includes where my Great Aunt Rebecca's body was found submerged in the Canal; how my ancestor Jacob Leach, a distiller of whiskey, helped plan the opening of the Canal in 1825 with Governor Clinton's famous boat parade; and the issues faced by sedentary folks seeking to become "end-to-enders." We used the Erie Canal the way the Women's Rights movement used it--to promote awareness of, and legislation for, a cause dear to our hearts -- in our case, the prevention of the #1 birth defects virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV).
When we commenced our journey, we assumed walking a mostly level path would be easy – but there were challenges! We've been chased by mosquitoes, biting flies, hissing geese and lightning. We endured torrential downpours, floods, ice, blinding snow, chafing underwear, and aching feet. Yet, we found ways to persevere and enjoy the beauty and engineering marvels along the way.
You can watch our story in the 30-minute video: “Hiking the Erie Canalway Trail, Vote on 7 Wonders, Stop CMV” (PAC-B TV, 2023) or in my one-minute video explaining why we took the 360-Mile Challenge: "Erie Canal Trail: Stop Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Birth Defects. Pass "Elizabeth's Law" (2022). When we finally reached Albany on April 23, 2025, I visited legislators the following day to ask them to pass another CMV law to test all newborns for CMV so they can receive early intervention during the first critical days.
Although the goal of the Canalway Challenge is to promote exercise, Jim and I found the 360-Mile Challenge a great way to vacation across upstate New York to learn the history of the Canal communities and to eat its food -- everything from Buffalo wings in Buffalo and salt potatoes in Syracuse to chicken riggies in Utica. As a result, we didn't actually lose weight--but we had a lot of fun!
I hope our story encourages you to register a Challenge with Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. My mom, Mary Ann Avazian, took the One-Mile Challenge with me pushing her in her wheelchair, but she still got recognized!
Finishers of the various Challenges receive a certificate, magnet, sticker, and Erie Canal 200 commemorative patch. I was glad we registered our Challenge because it helped me keep track of where we stopped and started, miles covered, and other notes.
To learn more about the Canalway Challenges, which range from 1-360 miles, visit: https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge. The answers to most your questions will be found here: Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor: FAQs.
I continue to walk the Trail whenever I can and hope you'll join me as a fellow towpath traveler! If you choose to complete the 360-Mile Challenge, I wonder if you'll agree with my list of "The 7 Wonders of the Erie Canalway Trail," help decide on the "8th Wonder," or suggest another one!
Sincerely,
Lisa SaundersCanalway Challenge AmbassadorWalked 360 miles to Complete the ChallengeBaldwinsville, New York LisaSaunders42@gmail.com
As a volunteer Canalway Challenge Ambassador, my basic duties are:Have basic knowledge of the guidelines of the Canalway Challenge and answer questions.Wear the supplied Canalway Challenge shirt while out on the trail whenever possible.Hand out Canalway Challenge trail cards and stickers.Identify local event organizers or businesses that may offer opportunities for promotion.Report on estimated number of interactions on the trail and provide feedback.Represent the Canalway Challenge and promote its many health, wellness, economic, and social benefits.
*Note: "People with disabilities and their family and friends are invited to take the 1st Mile Challenge or get going with Virtual Miles " (https://eriecanalway.org/1st-mile). Stretch at home while earning up to 15 miles watching these 15 videos of the Trail: https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge/virtual/virtual-cny
More information about the Challenge or Canalway Challenge Ambassadors:Ashley Quimby-Simoni, Communications & Outreach ManagerErie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 219, Waterford, NY 12188
518-237-7000, ext. 202 Ashley_Quimby-Simoni@eriecanalway.org
www.eriecanalway.org
www.facebook.com/ErieCanalway/
www.canalwaychallenge.org
According to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, as of May 2025, here are some Challenge Fast Facts:• Participants can log their miles by cycling, walking, running, paddling, or rolling on the NYS Canal System, Canalway Trail, or watered segments of the Old Erie Canal• Finishers receive a certificate, magnet, sticker, and Erie Canal 200 commemorative patch.• The Challenge runs from May 1 – October 31. Participants can finish outside that window,but their mileage may not be counted with the year’s official stats.• Since its inception in 2019, the Canalway Challenge has generated an estimated $5 millionin economic impact from over 10,000 participants.• Finishers have logged an estimated two million miles.• One-quarter of participants come from outside New York State, with an average of 35states represented each year. We ship finisher kits all over the nation and internationally.
My upcoming talks include:
Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 6pm “Walking 360 Miles to Complete the Erie Canalway Challenge”Jordan Historical Society, 15 Mechanic St, Jordan, NY.
Lisa Saunders, author of "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV," will discuss the challenges of walking the Trail between Buffalo and Albany; how her ancestor Jacob Leach, a distiller of whiskey, helped plan the opening of the Canal in 1825 with Governor Clinton's boat parade; where her Great Aunt Rebecca's body was found submerged in the Canal; and issues faced by sedentary folks seeking to become "end-to-enders." Will you agree with her choices of "The 7 Wonders of the Erie Canalway Trail"? Lisa, now a Canalway Challenge Ambassador, will explain how anyone can register their own Challenge, ranging from one to 360 miles. More about the event: Maureen, President, Jordan Historical Society, jordannyhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.
Weds, Sept 17, 2025, Noon“Walking 360 Miles to Complete the Erie Canalway Challenge”Baldwinsville Rotary Club, The Wood on Canton St.,More about the event: Chris Walsh, Program Co-Chair, Rotary Club of Baldwinsville, cwalsh7@twcny.rr.com
Photo caption for the following images:
Jim and Lisa Saunders pushing Mary Ann Avazian on the Erie Canalway Trail in DeWitt for a photo shoot for Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Photographs by Call of the Loon Productions.
Media coverage of our 360-mile Challenge
Eagle Newsroom: “This CMV Awareness Month, mother continues to share her story” (Edwards, A., June 19, 2024).
CNY Central: Baldwinsville mother applauds federal push to protect babies from CMV - CNY Central (Coleman, M.,March 8,2024).
The Citizen: “Bill in Congress aims to boost CMV newborn screening, research” (Robert Harding, Mar 8, 2024).
NBC3: Baldwinsville couple's advocacy inspires legislation for CMV awareness (Coleman, M., Nov. 30, 2023).
Eagle Newsroom: “Baldwinsville couple walking Erie Canal, raising awareness,”(Baldwinsville Messenger, print, Davis, J., Oct. 25, 2023).
Democrat and Chronicle and Lohud,: “New York begins screening newborns for CMV virus that causes birth defects. What to know” (Robinson, D., Oct. 4, 2023)
USA TODAY: This virus is a leading cause birth defects. Why isn't it screened more? (Eduardo Cuevas, 2023, print).
The Citizen: “NY to begin pilot CMV newborn screening program” (Harding, R. Sept. 28, 2023).
Public Access Channel Baldwinsville: The Path to CMV Prevention - 03/20/2023 (my 30-year cytomegalovirus journey and laws passed and hoped for).
The Post-Standard: "How a Baldwinsville mother fought for 30 years to pass a law that might have saved her daughter", Emma Vallelunga, Jan.1, 2023, Syracuse.com, Dec. 27, 2022 (Facebook).
CNYCentral.com:”,” Coleman, M., Dec.15, 2022 (Facebook).
The River Reporter: Viral alert: A silent virus that scars for life, Dec.13,2022
New York Family: “Elizabeth’s Law for CMV Education Passed in New York”, Kaitlyn Riggio, Dec. 8, 2022.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor: “Congratulations to Lisa Saunders, Author/TV Host and her husband, Jim, two Canalway Challengers who have walked half the length of the Erie Canal to raise awareness [of] the impacts of cytomegalovirus (CMV)” Dec. 6, 2022
The Citizen: “Our View: Elizabeth’s Law poised to help families avoid heartache,”The Citizen Editorial Board, Dec. 1, 2022
The Citizen:", Robert Harding, Nov. 29, 2022.
Twi-Lights, “Trail Works Inc. Recognizes CMV Awareness on National Trails Day” Fall 2021, p.5-7, TRAIL WORKS, INC.
The Citizen:", Robert Harding, June 1, 2022.
Eagle Newsroom, "Baldwinsville couple advocates for 'Elizabeth's Law' to stop cytomegalovirus: Bill named in memory of their daughter," Dec. 14, 2021.
Spectrum News: "Couple pushes for law in memory of their daughter" (Houghtaling, J., Jul. 01, 2021). Includes an interview with Dr. Sunil Sood.
Finger Lakes Times, "Trail of Hope celebration in Lyons marks CMV Month in New York" (Buchiere, S., Jun 11, 2021).
Finger Lakes Times: "MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Couple brings awareness to threat to infant health: CMV", (Buchiere, S.,June 4, 2021).
The Citizen:", (Harding, R., June 2, 2021).
Syracuse Woman magazine, "Fighting CMV One Step at a Time (p.28)", (Vallelunga, E., May 2021)
The Citizen: "", (Harding, R., May 4,2021)
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