Pattie Gonia, a drag performer known for LGBTQ+ outdoor advocacy, has completed a 100-mile backpacking trip down the California coast while raising more than $1,167,000 for environmental nonprofits.
Wynn Wiley, known professionally as Pattie Gonia, documented the journey on TikTok and Instagram, where the challenge quickly gained traction and brought in tens of thousands of individual donations.
The fundraiser, announced on December 1, set an initial goal of $1,000,000 for eight outdoor-focused organizations. Pattie Gonia confirmed in a recent video that the effort passed that target with support from roughly 37,000 donors, averaging around $30 per contribution.
The project was framed as both a charity initiative and a visibility moment for queer people in outdoor spaces. Pattie Gonia, who regularly films hikes, climate work, and advocacy events in full drag, opened the challenge with a post explaining they would attempt the 100-mile trek to raise money for nonprofits working on conservation, access, and community programs.
100 miles, eight nonprofits, $1.16 million raised
Throughout the five-day hike, Pattie Gonia posted regular updates showing the conditions on the trail and the difficulty of carrying a full pack while wearing drag. The final recap video shows the performer finishing the route and celebrating the donation total, which surpassed the original goal by more than $160,000.
In a TikTok caption shared after completing the trek, Pattie Gonia wrote that “everyone told me I was crazy. then, it worked,” highlighting how the challenge grew far beyond expectations. Supporters shared the campaign across social platforms, helping it reach new audiences over the course of the week.