To whom it may concern,

I started buying Wigwam socks because they were made in the U.S.A. I continued buying them because they are exceptionally comfortable. I just ran one of the toughest events ever! The Nor cal, squaw valley, TOUGH MUDDER in a pair of your socks. I ran these socks through 13.5 miles of sand, mud, snow, and ice and swam with them through the worst water and coldest lakes you could imagine and these bad boys have stood up the test. I can't say i would have made it if not for the comfort and durability of your socks. Thank you for such a great U.S. made product.

- Ryan

 
Last weekend Wigwam had the amazing opportunity to support the CureDuchenne team of hikers summit the Grand Tetons. Their motivation? Finding a cure for a rare form of muscular dystrophy called, Duchenne.

Although conditions weren't optimal, this group of hikers didn't let the threat of bad weather stop them from taking the journey. For all parties, this was going to be a physical challenge and emotional challenge. Especially for Paul Miller and Bill Procko. Both Paul and Bill were hiking and will continue to hike for their sons, Hawken and Evan. I had the personal opportunity to meet Paul this past Winter and can say that he qualifies as a, "Super Dad" in my mind. A Super Dad on a mission to find a Cure for Duchenne. Without even knowing Bill, I can assume the same qualities about him. Super Dad's.

Over the course of 3 days, this team of Dads and CureDuchenne advocates, hiked, climbed, and camped in tough conditions. With 70mph winds at night, changing temperatures and unstable snow conditions, the group powered through and made it to the top. When asked how it hike/climb went, one of the team members responded, "It was great! But...one of the scariest things I've ever done!" It was a true test of faith and perseverance for all involved.

I must say, I've had the opportunity to work with many organizations over the past several years while working with Wigwam and this one has really hit my heart hard. Wigwam is honored to have been involved in this amazing adventure. A big thanks to Paul and Debra Miller for allowing us to be a part of this. I sincerely hope that this hike helped get us one step closer (in Wigwam socks) to finding a CURE for DMD. We're with you every step of the way in your effort to find a CURE. Congrats!
 
Viva!

Natalie Stangl & Team Wigwam

About CureDuchenne:

CureDuchenne is a grassroots effort to bring back focus.  We’re not here to create a profit-making organization.  CureDuchenne was started by parents whose only child has DMD.  If one son can be saved, there is hope for all.   

Recently, we got a nice letter of appreciation from a customer in Northern California who is allgeric to wool - check it out!

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Danette M. and I live in Northern California. I wanted to take the time to write your company a letter of appreciation. I know it's a bit old-fashioned, but I guess I am just that. I am an avid hiker and love the outdoors, but I am allergic to wool. I have tried many brands of hiking socks over the years, but none have compared to yours. I recently went on a 530 mile trek across Spain and I had 2 pairs of your socks and 1 pair of a competing brand. I had to handwash my socks each night and hang them to dry. The competing brand of socks gave out and I had to throw them away about 2/3 the way through! My Wigwam socks (I have the Cool-Lite Hiker Pro Quarters ) lasted the whole time. I even had people trying to steal them from the clothesline at the hostels and pensions! I think this speaks columes as to their quality and appearance! I am hitting the trail again in August for a long hike and plan to pack my new Wigwams! Thank you so much for making a wool-free, durable, breathable sock.

Sincerely,

Danette

(picture taken after summiting Everest)

Every day we all have the opportunity to meet somebody new and learn something about them. Maybe it is a new neighbor, or a friend of a friend, or someone you bump into while walking your dog. On some occassions though, you run into somebody that, flat out, makes you say, "wow!". Last Saturday, I had that moment when I was able to sit down and chat with Sean Swarner. Before meeting with Sean, I knew about his incredible story and I knew he was a survivor, a fighter, and more.

For those of you who don't know who Sean Swarner is, get to know him. Whether that be through reading his story, meeting him in person or following him on social media. This is one incredible man. Sean was diagnosed with two completely different types of cancer, once at the age of 13 and again at the age of 16 where he was given fourteen days to live and read his last rights. He astounded the medical community when he survived both these brutal diseases and a medical-induced coma. After beating both cancers, he realized that there wasn't any challenge out there that he couldn't handle or any peak too high. With that in mind, he crested the peak of the highest point in the world (Mount Everest) with only partial use of his lungs. As the first cancer survivor to do so, Sean decided to continue climbing and has since topped the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, South America, Australia, Antarctica, and North America.

Sean stopped into the Wigwam booth at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT and right away, the warmth of his personality and attitude humbled me instantly. With integrity, and honesty, he and I discussed possible opportunities for Wigwam to collaborate with his cause and potential sponsorship. Sean is the founder of a non-profit organization called CancerClimber, an organization that delivers hope through inspiration. The mission? To help those who have been touched by cancer focus on living an active, healthy lifestyle. Although we could have kept on chatting for another hour, I learned that there was so much more to Sean in the short time he was at our booth. The best thing about Sean? He KEEPS SMILING just as much as he KEEPS CLIMBING. His strong spirit mixed with deep determination is something that very few people have in this world.

Sean isn't just a cancer survior, he is an inspiration. Someone who touches hearts and minds every day. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Sean for the 2011 year and beyond. Please check out Seans website and be sure to donate to his cause at www.CancerClimber.org.

Hats (and socks!) off to you Sean! - Natalie

Sean's ESPN video
Sean's Livestrong video

An “All-American” Christmas is an idea many families are adopting this holiday season, as they seek to give to their families and give-back to their country. Now, the MADE IN AMERICA STORE, which created that campaign, is celebrating with a special event.

That celebration will take place at the MADE IN AMERICA STORE in Elma, NY, on Saturday, December 18^th, from 10am to 6pm.

This day-long holiday event will feature a BBQ Cookout, live entertainment by Nashville recording artist Ricky Lee, a giant Christmas Tree lighting at 1pm, and a visit from Santa Clause from 1pm to 3pm along with his “live” reindeer.

In addition, children will really enjoy a Story Hour from 12 to 1pm, as well as animals from Hawk Creek Animal Rescue from 1pm to 2pm. And, the whole family will be amazed by Matt Hanna’s a wood-carving demonstration.

As a very special added-attraction, Wigwam Socks, which are 100% American-made, will be on-site with the company’s Wig-L-Wam Wagon from 11am to 6pm. It’s an opportunity to “Dance Your Socks Off”, and receive a FREE pair of Wigwam Socks, just by filling-out a questionnaire.

An “All-American Christmas” is sponsored by the MADE IN AMERICA STORE and Northeast Collision, both located at 900 Maple Road in Elma, NY.

Since opening in April of this year, the MADE IN AMERICA STORE has become symbolic of a movement that is sweeping the country, as more and more of our fellow citizens pledge to purchase American-made products.

Of course, this Elma, NY retail center sells only 100% American-made items, including hundreds of gifts that are perfect for the Christmas holiday season. You’ll find those items not only in the store, but also online at www.SaveOurCountryFirst.com.

So, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate, which is just what store owner Mark Andol, his staff, and their customers will be doing on Saturday, December 18^th, as the MADE IN AMERICA STORE presents an “All-American Christmas”.

For a lot of triathletes their racing season is coming to an end. This is going to be the fourth part of the year (after base building, speedwork and the taper to the big race). It where the plans for next year are made and strategies for a richer experience (i.e. how to get faster!) are created. Here are a few thoughts on how to do all of this.

Celebrate. Take a few weeks to relish what you did in your year of triathlon. This is the most important part of winding down from the previous season, and is essential to do before you launch into planning next year's. Take time to bask in the level of fitness that you achieved. You are part of a small select group on the planet that even attempts to do something as challenging and amazing as a triathlon.

Celebrate all that you did this past year in your training and racing. Honor the successes that you accomplished as well as the tough times when maybe things did not go as planned. Remember, the only bad race is one where you don't learn something from it.

Reflect. Look back as a tool to go forward, but wait a few weeks or a month after your last race before you do indeed really start to plan next season. The tendency is to immediately decide the where, when and how of 2011. But give yourself just a little distance from your final race before you do that. The picture will look quite different once you have given yourself some space from that final event. Planning too soon can often lead to trying to make up for something from this year instead of figuring out how to have the best experience next year. Even if you are coming off an amazing season with the high of a PR in your final race, that enthusiasm can cloud the importance of the essentials what the essentials in your training were that got you there. So bask in that glory, but wait a few beats before you plan out how to gain your next moment in the sun.

 
Despite a suspected broken foot, Mimi Anderson, the 48 year-old long distance running grandmother from Smarden in Kent, added yet another achievement to her already impressive running palamares when she set a new world record of 403.81 miles for the ‘furthest distance covered on a treadmill by a female in 7 days’ on Saturday 23^rd October 2010. The new record was achieved despite the pain of a suspected broken foot and the consequent impact on her running efficiency and gait which led to the development calf muscle stress and of equally painful blisters.

 

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Wigwam is proud to be working with the American Hiking Society in effort to support and protect America's hiking trails and parks. For the past 30 years, American Hiking Society has worked vigorously on behalf of the nation’s trails and all the hikers who enjoy them. Being that Wigwam sells product to outdoor enthusiasts nationwide, the relationship is a great fit.

American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, National Trails Day® (NTD), inspires the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects. NTD also provides an opportunity to thank volunteers, land managing agencies, and outdoor-minded businesses for their support in developing and maintaining trails. Last year there were over 1500 events register under the AHS on National Trails Day® weekend - a weekend that is growing in awareness every year.

Wigwam is looking forward to the new relationship and participating in the National Trails Day weekend on June 4th 2011.

Hike in Wigwam socks to support the American Hiking Society's effort to preserve our trails.

 

Read more at www.americanhiking.org

 

During her sophomore field hockey season, Alli Morgan ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of her right knee. For a few months after her initial reconstructive surgery she was progressing toward recovery, until she faced intense pain and couldn't advance any further in therapy. Months went by without an answer and then a new doctor took an x-ray and discovered that a screw was lodged in the joint and the replaced ACL was too long.

A few weeks after her second surgery, a staph infection set in and her surgical wound refused to close. Over the next few months, several infections set in, the ligaments and hardware in her knee became septic and were removed and the wound grew larger. Several more surgeries were performed to remove unhealthy tissue and close the wound but to no avail. After seven surgeries to debride the wound, it now extended from her thigh to the middle of her right calf and was down to the bone.

Alli developed serious MRSA and VRE infections that often times traveled to her blood, and though several skin grafts were done, they all refused to take. Alli finished her senior year of high school in the hospital. Finally, the infection was controlled by IV antibiotics that she could receive at home, so she made the decision to go away to college as she had always planned - Alli wasn't ready to let her health impinge on another area of her life. Within a month of starting her classes at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in August of 2008, she was forced to come home on a medical leave of absence.

 

Angie Sadler is a working mom, housewife, and Ultra Distance Runner. Angie has been running for a long time but has only recently been doing long-distances. Recently, Angie participated in her second 24 hour race representing England during the Perth Ultra Fest. She was first lady and 4th overall. She also achieved the qualifying standard for the 2010 World Championships and the 2011 Commonwealth games.

During all of this, she was outfitted in Wigwam socks. Wigwam is proud to be supporting Angie. Wigwam will be tracking Angie and her results throughout the year as she enters new races around the globe.