Canes Across America
Stronger as a pack: Aftersight and AwareWolf for independence.

A white cane is more than a tool. It’s the freedom to walk to the mailbox, hike our favorite trail, cross the street, and show up for the people and places you love. For someone living with vision loss, the right cane, in hand at the right time, can be the difference between staying home and stepping out with confidence.

Since 1990, Aftersight has helped people with vision loss stay connected and independent, from audio news and support groups to accessible walks and hikes. Getting white canes into the hands of people who need them has always been part of that work. With Canes Across America, we’re taking it further, together with our partners at AwareWolf Gear, makers of the All Terrain and Urban Explorer Cane: a folding, weight-bearing mobility cane designed by a blind hiker, for anyone who wants to stay active and on the move.

Your gift puts an AwareWolf Gear cane, either the Urban Explorer or the All Terrain Cane, into the hands of someone living with vision loss. It also helps keep the lights on at Aftersight and AwareWolf Gear, so Canes Across America can keep reaching people for years to come. Our goal is $25,000 by midnight on Giving Tuesday, on December 1st. Every gift helps someone move through the world on their own terms, with the support of a community that has their back.

AwareWolf: The Genesis of Freedom and Empowerment
By Sedona Dave, founder of AwareWolf Gear

I have always been an adventure seeker. A former pilot, SCUBA instructor, and wildland firefighter, I lived my pre-vision-loss days to the max.

When my vision began to deteriorate, I had to let things go: my career, driving, and activities that require full vision. But there were some things I would not let go of. One of them was hiking. I moved to the Red Rocks of Sedona, where hiking every day is my life. As my vision worsened, the rugged terrain got harder to navigate. I adapted as best I could, but I needed more.

I’m an inventor and problem solver at heart, so I went to my workshop. I bought a variety of hiking poles, took them apart, and re-engineered them. My first model, the Mark One, was light carbon with a 16-inch foam grip and a rolling ball tip, which worked best after testing many types. The Mark 2 followed in aluminum with internal twist locks, stronger and good enough for me.

Then I brought it to a group of blind hikers, and they taught me what I’d missed. Telescoping canes are hard to extend without sight, and the sections are tough to reconnect. A traditional mobility cane unfolds and snaps into place. Ours didn’t look like a red-and-white cane either, and we need others to recognize us as blind or low vision. Smaller hikers struggled with the length, and the twist locks kept slipping. That’s when the idea of an adjustable handle came to me.

I went back to the drawing board for a complete overhaul. The Mark 3 is titanium for lightweight strength, with an adjustable foam grip and a re-engineered folding mechanism. It feels as familiar as the mobility canes we’re used to, with one big difference: it can bear weight and support the user. Working with the factory through several rounds, we streamlined the fold and rebuilt the joint in stainless steel for lateral strength.

AwareWolf Gear’s All Terrain Cane is my dream come true, for me and for everyone in my community who wants to stay active, adventurous, empowered, confident, and on the move.

No one should have to find their way alone. When we move together, we’re stronger as a pack. Join the Pack and help put independence within reach for people with vision loss across America.