2025 Trail Grinder Fundraiser
Racing Together for Superficial Siderosis Research
Every September, the Superficial Siderosis Research Alliance (SSRA) invites our community to come together for the Annual Trail Grinder Benefit Race for Superficial Siderosis, one of the most meaningful events of the year. What began as a local run in East Texas has now grown into a global movement, with participants across the world allowed to participate virtually to raise awareness and support for superficial siderosis research.
In 2025, we are proud to share two ways to participate: the in-person Trail Grinder race in Atlanta, Texas, and the Trail Grinder Virtual Race, open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
The Trail Grinder Benefit Race, hosted by Caffe’ Crema in Atlanta, TX, began as a grassroots fundraiser, but over the years it has grown into an anchor event for the SSRA, raising thousands of dollars to fund projects that give patients and families hope. The 2025 edition promises to be our biggest yet, with both local runners and an invited international community joining forces. Both events share one mission: to fuel critical research into superficial siderosis and to unite a community of runners, walkers, cyclists, and supporters determined to make a difference.
The In-Person Race: Trail Grinder Benefit Run in Atlanta, Texas
For those able to travel to Northeast Texas, the in-person Trail Grinder is more than just a race — it’s an experience. Hosted by Caffe’ Crema in Atlanta, TX, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, this event showcases the rolling trails, small-town warmth, and community spirit that make this region special.
Local Spotlight: Caffe’ Crema
The Trail Grinder is deeply personal for owner Tayna Beers. Her uncle, Gary Daniel, has shown her family and the community the devastating long-term impact of superficial siderosis when allowed to progress. Tanya, her team of dedicated volunteers, and the race sponsors’ commitment help transform every mile into support for research, awareness, and patient care.
Race Day Details
- Location: Atlanta MTB Trail (City Park), Atlanta, TX 75551
- Date & Start Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM
- Distances & Entry Fees:
- 5K ($30): 3.1 miles through the East Texas piney woods
- 10K ($40): One full 6.2-mile loop with 630 feet of elevation gain
- 30K ($50): Three full loops — a true endurance challenge with elevation gain on each
Every registration fuels the SSRA’s mission by helping to:
- Fund new research
- Support patient data collection
- Build awareness
- Provide patient education
Whether you walk, jog, or push yourself through the full 30K, your participation helps advance hope and progress for patients living with superficial siderosis. REGISTER TO RUN: TRAIL GRINDER SIGN UP
The Virtual Race: Join from Anywhere in the World
Not everyone can make it to Texas, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. The Trail Grinder Virtual Race ensures that no matter where you live, you can be part of the movement.
Here’s how it works:
- Register with a donation: Your entry doubles as support for SSRA’s mission.
- Choose your activity: Run, walk, cycle, or roll in a wheelchair. You set the distance and the course.
- Race Day: September 13, 2025: Complete your activity wherever you are by race day: on your favorite trail, your neighborhood street, a gym treadmill, or a bike path.
- Celebrate your effort: Take a selfie, share your story, and tag #TeamSuperficialSiderosis on social media.
Just like the in-person race, the virtual event is designed to foster community and fun.
- Longest distance completed in each activity category
- Best selfie from the course
- Most social engagement (the posts that get people talking)
Winners will receive an exclusive #TeamSuperficialSiderosis shirt, a badge of honor for helping lead the charge against superficial siderosis.
One Mission, Two Pathways
While the logistics of the in-person and virtual races differ, the heart of the Trail Grinder remains the same: empowering individuals to move, connect, and support life-changing research.
By participating, you:
- Advance Research: Funds raised go directly to projects such as clinical trials, new treatment strategies, and patient support initiatives.
- Spread Awareness: Sharing your activity and story helps educate others about superficial siderosis, a condition too often overlooked by the medical community.
- Inspire Community: Every runner, walker, cyclist, or donor becomes part of a larger movement to create hope where there was once only uncertainty.
Whether you’re lining up on the Texas trails or lacing up your shoes thousands of miles away, your involvement matters. Together, these two events showcase how one community, no matter how spread out, can unite for a single cause.
Why You Should Participate
The Trail Grinder is about more than logging miles. It’s about making an impact. Patients living with superficial siderosis face daily challenges most of us can’t imagine: losing the ability to hear loved ones, stumbling with each step, forgetting simple moments. By registering, donating, or simply spreading the word, you are standing with them.
You don’t need to be an athlete to participate. The beauty of the Trail Grinder is its inclusivity: every pace, every distance, every effort counts. Maybe you’ll walk a mile around your block. Perhaps you’ll push yourself to run a half-marathon. Maybe you’ll ride your bike through your favorite city streets. Whatever you choose, you are directly contributing to research that brings us closer to effective treatments and a better quality of life for patients.
Be Part of #TeamSuperficialSiderosis
September 13, 2025, will be a day of unity. In Atlanta, runners will take to the trails. Around the world, participants will hit sidewalks, gyms, bike paths, and city streets. Online, the SSRA community will light up with selfies, stories, and encouragement under the banner of #TeamSuperficialSiderosis.
By the end of the day, we’ll all be tired, sweaty, and proud, but more importantly, we’ll be one step closer to answers for a disease that desperately needs them.
So lace up. Get ready. Whether in person or virtually, join us for Trail Grinder 2025 and help turn miles into medicine.
Register Today: Trail Grinder Virtual Race Sign-Up
How to Get Involved
- Register for the in-person race in Atlanta, Texas, hosted by Caffe’ Crema, and join us on the ground.
- Sign up for the virtual race, choose your course, and share your journey online.
- Donate directly if you’re unable to participate physically. Every dollar still brings us closer to breakthroughs.
- Spread the word by encouraging friends, family, and coworkers to join or support.
Registration is simple, and your donation is your entry ticket. Once you sign up, you’re part of a global team dedicated to pushing back against superficial siderosis.
