The Lycian Way Challenge is a fundraising hike that follows the length of the Lycian Way, a 540-kilometre trail in southern Türkiye. The idea is straightforward: undertake the 540-kilometre route over 4–5 weeks and channel the effort into raising funds and awareness for men’s health and cancer recovery, while documenting the journey openly for others to follow.
The challenge was created by Jason M. Cronen after facing cancer twice, most recently following a devastating diagnosis while living abroad in Thailand with his girlfriend in April 2024.
The walk mirrors recovery itself: long, uncertain, and taken one step at a time.
Funds raised support Movember’s global work helping men live beyond cancer, along with other leading organizations and research efforts focused on prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery.
For centuries, the Lycian Way served as a trading route linking coastal towns with inland mountain communities across what is now southern Türkiye. This hike follows that same line on the map, committing to the distance and the time it demands. Support is welcomed to help turn this journey into meaningful impact for men’s health worldwide.
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Hi everyone, I’m the creator and hiker behind The Lycian Way Challenge.
What began as a personal commitment has grown into a bold challenge and a small but determined grassroots effort forming around it.
At its core is a simple but very real question: after everything, can I successfully hike the 540-kilometer Lycian Way?
Much of the preparation has happened alongside my treatment and the ongoing process of rebuilding my life through and beyond cancer. Over the past several months, I’ve been training, organizing logistics, securing partnerships, and steadily fundraising as I prepare to take this on.
Somewhere along the way, this stopped being just a hike. It has become a personal vision quest.
Supporters so far include HOKA, Sony, OpenVC, MixTape Beverages, 1Up Media, alts.co, and the Travel Massive community, along with early individual donors who came in through friends and family. I’m also in active conversations with several additional brands and organizations as we continue building the right group of partners for this challenge.
There’s still a great deal to do before getting to the trail, and even more once the hike begins. I’m sharing this openly to build momentum and invite others to be part of it.
🥾 How You Can Help Us
If you’re part of the Travel Massive community and this resonates, I’d truly value your support.
I’m actively looking to connect with writers, PR professionals, donors, outdoor and travel brands, hospitality groups, and media teams who want to be part of this effort. This is one of the largest Movember challenges being undertaken anywhere in the world this year, and there’s real opportunity to build something meaningful around it.
Donations directly support logistics, safety planning, gear, and media and communications around the challenge. My goal is to raise at least $10,000 to fully support the effort and maximize its impact. If you’re able to contribute, you can do so via Wise or other platforms at lycianwaychallenge.com/donate/. A larger public GoFundMe campaign is also in the works to expand the fundraising reach in the months ahead.
And if you’re on the route, nearby, or have friends along the way, I’d love to connect! Sometimes the most meaningful support is local flavor, a helpful handoff, or a shared moment on the trail.
I also want to give a sincere thank you to Burak Demirci in Türkiye, who I originally met through Travel Massive. Burak has become a friend and an invaluable local resource, and his guidance has made a real difference as this effort has taken shape.
Thank you for reading and for any support you’re able to offer. It truly means the world to me.
👉 Connect & Follow The Hike
Web: lycianwaychallenge.com
FB: facebook.com/lycianwaychallenge
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/lycianwaychallenge
Movember Teaser on YouTube: bit.ly/LycianWayChallengeTeaser
Other social media coming soon, once I catch my breath and set them up.