Buffalo, NY - May 16, 2011 – This summer, Dan Cross-Viola of Chicago, IL - a Buffalo, NY native will embark upon a five month 2,663 hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in support of the work done at The Belle Center.

Throughout the hike he will traverse the states of Washington, Oregon, and California from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. While Dan is an avid backpacker, this hike will not simply be a leisure experience. Rather he is doing this hike to raise money for The Belle Center in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.

According to a statement from Cross-Viola: 

I love a great challenge. I know The Belle Center does too, and that's why I'm undertaking this hike to help raise money for the amazing, life-changing work they do. As someone who works in the field of youth development, I know a quality youth-serving agency when I see one.

  Tottering Painfully up the street with one foot dragging heavily after the other as if each step was his last, an old grey haired man made his way up Main Street a few moments before midnight. His shoulders were bent beneath the cares an wary that were reflected upon his pallid, wrinkled face.  His emaciated form shook and swayed and collapsed in a heap. A sympathetic crowd gathered around the old man and a cop pushed his way through the crowd to administer his wants. The lights were dimmed and a transformation took place. There where the old man had lain was a bright little cherub, smiling optimistic. It was the departure of the old Father Time of 1910 as the chimes rang, whistles blew and horns tooted. His cycle was completed and in his place came the new baby, MCMXI. His arrival was the signal for an outburst of noise. The Waterfront shrieked with sirens. Factory watchmen opened the whistles and they bellowed for the grand tidings of a new year.