My name is Jason Cronen, and I am living with cancer for the second time.

Facing cancer twice forces you to look at how much time you have left, and I decided to do something meaningful with the time I have.

In a few weeks, I'll hike 540 kilometers across the Lycian Way in southern Türkiye on The Lycian Way Challenge, a 4–5 week thru-hike I created to support Movember, men's health, and rural cancer screening.

Where Your Donations Go

Every dollar raised through my 540km hike will help fund 5 to 6 rural cancer screening pilots in 2027.

Your donation covers testing, transportation, and other essential costs that help men reach the nearest medical facility. Local doctors handle intake and referrals, and your support will help 180 to 220 men receive potentially life-saving cancer screenings they would otherwise miss.

Campaign Progress & How You Can Help

To date, The Lycian Way Challenge has raised more than $13,500 from over 160 donors around the world, with support from 17 Trail Partners. This GoFundMe will help us reach more people and achieve our $25,000+ fundraising goal.

Both times I was diagnosed, I felt fine. There were no warning signs. If I hadn't had access to early screening, I wouldn't be here today to lace up my boots. I'm hitting the trail to help make that chance available to more men.

My History with Cancer

I was first diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2004 while attending the College of Charleston.

What followed were 18 months of aggressive chemotherapy and three surgeries. Thanks to the teams at Roper Hospital, MUSC, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, I survived.

Over the next 20 years, I made the most of my second chance. I started businesses, moved to Asia, and built a life with my girlfriend and our cat.

Then, in April 2024, I collapsed on a Bangkok sidewalk and woke in a hospital bed to learn the cancer had returned.

Facing cancer a second time strips away the B.S. It makes you focus on what matters.

Why This Challenge Matters

Cancer taught me that early detection can be the difference between life and death. I was fortunate to have access to screening.

Too many men never get that chance.

Rural communities face enormous barriers to cancer screening. Long travel distances, transportation costs, lost wages, and limited healthcare access prevent far too many men from getting screened until it's too late.

Every dollar raised through The Lycian Way Challenge helps fund testing, transportation, and other essential costs that get men through the clinic door.

Together, we can give more men the opportunity that saved my life.

Thank you for believing in this mission and for standing with me on this journey.

Most gratefully yours,

Jason M. Cronen

P.S. These two photos were taken just before my diagnosis in Charleston back in April 2004, and later at Phish in Coventry in August 2004, right in the middle of chemotherapy. Even then, I was determined to keep living fully. That spirit has never left me.