Drag star raises over $1.1 million backpacking 100-mile trek in full drag

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Pattie Gonia, a drag artist and advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the outdoors, recently hiked 100 miles along the California coast. She raised over $1.1 million for organizations working to protect the environment.

Pattie Gonia, whose real name is Wynn Wiley, shared their adventure on TikTok and Instagram. The project became very popular online, resulting in tens of thousands of people donating to the cause.

So, I just heard about this awesome fundraiser that started on December 1st. It was aiming to raise a million bucks for eight different groups that help get people outside. And guess what? It totally crushed that goal! Pattie Gonia shared in a recent video that they actually raised way more, thanks to about 37,000 people chipping in an average of around $30 each. It’s really inspiring to see so much support!

The project served a dual purpose: it was a fundraising effort for charity and a way to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in the outdoors. Pattie Gonia, known for filming hikes, environmental work, and activism while in drag, launched the challenge by announcing they would hike 100 miles to benefit nonprofits focused on conservation, access, and community support.

100 miles, eight nonprofits, $1.16 million raised

During her five-day hike, Pattie Gonia shared updates on social media about the challenging trail conditions and the difficulty of hiking in drag with a full backpack. Her final video showed her completing the hike and celebrating that she’d raised over $160,000 – exceeding her original fundraising goal.

After finishing the hike, Pattie Gonia shared on TikTok that people thought her goal was impossible, but she proved them wrong. The campaign quickly gained a lot of support online, spreading to new audiences throughout the week.

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2025-12-06 17:48