Third-annual Access Walk event expands nationwide with participants from Seattle to New York
The non-profit group raises funds to provide grants to small clinics that provide access to reproductive healthcare in Washington, Oregon and Nevada.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2025
SEATTLE, Wash. – The third-annual Access Walk, which raises funds to grant to local clinics to support travel expenses individuals incur from being forced to leave their state to access safe abortion services, has expanded from its Seattle roots to a nationwide virtual event. Formed in the wake of the Dobbs Decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, in the first two years alone, Access Walk has awarded $160,000 in grants to Cedar River Clinics of Washington and Lilith Clinic.
Cedar River Clinics has locations in Renton, Tacoma, and Yakima as well as telemedicine services and provides care to patients from around the country. The Lilith Clinic is an independent abortion clinic with offices in Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas. Last year, Lilith Clinic Seattle welcomed patients from over 20 states.
“What started out as our family’s passion project has evolved and grown to a national movement that allows everyone, regardless of their location or ability, to walk one step at a time to raise funds that support individuals facing difficult financial circumstances to access reproductive healthcare,” said Jeff Pyatt, co-founder of Access Walk. “As we see greater restrictions and hostile actions toward abortion access in states across the nation, the collective fundraising effort of Access Walk participants will continue to offset costs associated with travel, such as airfare, hotel stays, gas, meals, childcare and medications.”
The first two Access Walk events were held at Volunteer Park in Seattle. This year, the event will be all virtual with a celebratory event in September in the Seattle area. This move was prompted by the formation of walking teams across the nation. So far, 2025 teams have formed in:
- Seattle, WA
- Sun Valley, ID
- Manhattan, NY
- Allentown, PA
- Dunedin, FL
- Palm Harbor, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Santa Fe, NM
All fundraising dollars are granted to clinics to cover travel costs. “With the average cost of travel ranging from $1,500-2,000 per individual, which includes airfare, lodging, meals and things like medications and clothing, the grants will go a long way to supporting hundreds of individuals around the country that have to flee their state to exercise their bodily autonomy,” Pyatt said. “People from all walks of life access abortion services and it is our goal to support our local clinics that help bridge the gap to access through the funds Access Walk provides. Supporting Lilith and Cedar River truly makes a difference in the lives of individuals impacted by the Dobbs decision.”
2025 Access Walk Event Details
What: Third-annual Access Walk event to raise funds to help individuals forced to travel long distances to access safe abortion services. A full 100% of the funds raised by walkers will be donated to the clinics to directly support individuals who need assistance with costs associated with travel, like accommodations, fuel, meals, and other expenses.
Date and Location
- Walk and fundraise from sign-up day until Sept. 13, 2025
- Access Walk will be virtual with a group live and online celebration. Details to come!
- Registration for 2025 is open and individuals are encouraged to raise $350.
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Access Walk, a 501 (c)3 organization, was founded by the Pyatt family of Seattle after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs case in June 2022, which overturned the 50-year-old protection of abortion access across the nation. The family hosted the first-ever Access Walk event in Seattle in September 2023.
Access Walk has one goal: To offer financial support to regional organizations that provide access to safe abortion services. Organizations providing this service typically have minimal staffing and financial resources, and face challenges when attempting to raise funds to support individuals’ travel and lodging expenses to access their services.
Access Walk’s founders believe finances should not be a barrier to access to safe abortion services. While numbers are still coming in, there is anecdotal evidence that individuals from other states are traveling to Washington state to seek access to abortion services. This puts a strain on state providers as well as having financial impacts for those seeking the services, particularly low-income and underserved populations.
Media Contact:
Bobbi Cussins
360.280.1679