My name is Bonni Stephenson and I am fundraising on behalf of Stacy Engel.

I met Stacy while she worked as a Firearms instructor at SureShot in Craven County. Stacy and I became friends and I have always been able to count on Stacy to help out and be supportive when I needed it. Now it’s her turn to get some support.

In our community Stacy has been an active volunteer with many organizations. She was an active volunteer with the Carteret County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation( which is where I got to know her). As a volunteer she helped with many events including being our instructor for Pistols and Pancakes as well as volunteering in events for the NCNWTF’s Women. Only. Weekend.

Stacy is kind, caring, and hardworking. She homeschooled and raised 3 children following failed and unhealthy marriage. She has never complained or asked for anything.

Stacy and her daughter moved to Georgia from Carteret County in 2024 after Stacy spent some time there in 2023 after breaking her foot on the Appalachian Trail and fell in love with the mountains.

The move has been a new start after years of a bad marriage and living in survival mode. Stacy has found peace and freedom on the trail and in the mountains like she has never had. She works in a 1876 Grist Mill now, a little piece of history. She reports “I'm not getting rich with basic retail pay but love the people I work with and have quality of life”.

Over the last 6 months Stacy has struggled with her health. She has had constant pain and nausea to find out she has stage 3 Organ Collapse and needs major surgery. Surgery will happen on December 9th and will involve 5 procedures. She will be out of work for a couple months. She won't be able to bend at the waist and have limited movement for at least 6-8 weeks and is unable to pick up anything heavier than a glass of water. Complete internal healing will be 3-6 months. That will be followed by physical therapy.

In the midst of all this doctors have also found a cyst with non-benign characteristics on her breast. She has further imaging and a biopsy coming up.

It's expected that she may not be able to return to the Appalachian Trail (her true passion) or any strenuous hiking for possibly a year or more.

Stacy is almost 900 miles into the AT now and hopes to get the 8 miles she needs done to reach that 900 mile mark before the surgery, but she is not sure if she can physically pull it off.

Stacy has health insurance, but the cost to cover expenses not covered (medications, therapies, deductibles, car insurance, rent, food, utilities) will cost over $10k.

Stacy has a long recovery ahead for her. With the move and health issues she has been having her are savings gone.

Stacy doesn’t want to be a burden and us humbled by any and all help offered, even prayer and well wishes..

I (Bonni) and reaching out on Stacy’s behalf and hoping that with some help from those she has helped and touched over the years she is able to have some quality of life back, healthy and happy back on trail not burdened down with debt this time next year.