Dr. Vonda Wright and Buck Institute Launch Groundbreaking Women's Health Campaign

Move the Mountain Campaign: A New Era for Women’s Health Research

In an inspiring new initiative, Dr. Vonda Wright, a prominent orthopedic surgeon and women’s health advocate, has teamed up with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging to launch the Move the Mountain campaign. This ambitious philanthropic effort aims to address the critical gaps in research concerning women’s aging, seeking to raise $79 million to establish the Vonda Wright Women’s Health Foundation, a new hub for exploring women’s unique health challenges.

The campaign, scheduled to kick off from September 16–20, 2026, will feature Dr. Wright undertaking the rigorous 29029 Trails Race in Park City, Utah, an endurance challenge covering a total of 79 miles. Each mile represents vital funding for research that has historically been underappreciated and under-resourced, particularly with respect to how women experience the aging process. As Dr. Wright emphasizes, “For more than twenty-five years, women have been asking why we experience profound changes in our bodies, yet few answers exist.”

Women statistically outlive men but spend a considerable portion of their lives grappling with health issues often related to aging. Despite this reality, research into the biological underpinnings of aging in women has been severely lacking, leading to gaps in understanding crucial aspects such as ovarian health, which significantly influences various bodily systems, including cardiovascular and neurological health.

Dr. Wright noted, “The ovary may be one of the most critical organs affecting longevity in women, yet its aging has never been thoroughly studied.” Hence, the Move the Mountain campaign endeavors to catalyze scientific inquiry that directly addresses these unanswered questions. The funding will support innovative new research methodologies and provide scholarships and grants for pilot studies focused on women’s health, specifically targeting areas that have been neglected in traditional medical research.

Foundation Priorities and Future Directions
Dr. Vonda Wright’s advocacy will be further anchored by the establishment of the Vonda Wright Women’s Health Foundation, which aims to:
1. Create a comprehensive scientific map of the aging ovary.
2. Advance studies into the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause.
3. Accelerate therapeutic innovations in female sexual health.
4. Foster women-led pilot projects that can generate future breakthroughs in women's health.

The campaign exemplifies a novel fundraising strategy, with contributions starting as low as $79, designed to engage community members and magnify the impact of larger donations. For those who wish to significantly influence the foundation’s outcomes, naming opportunities range from $1 million Mile Champion gifts to a transformative $79 million Mountain Builder investment.

Dr. Eric Verdin, President and CEO of the Buck Institute, articulated the significance of this partnership, stating, “Vonda’s mission aligns naturally with the research capabilities of the Buck Institute. The Vonda Wright Foundation will provide a lasting platform for impactful scientific achievements in women's health, ensuring that the momentum built during this campaign translates into meaningful advancements.”

This campaign not only aims to change the conversation around women’s health and aging but promises to unleash a wave of scientific inquiry that can lead to substantial improvements in women's health outcomes moving forward. To learn more about the Move the Mountain campaign and how to get involved, visit buckinstitute.org/lab/move-the-mountain.

With leadership figures like Dr. Vonda Wright at the helm, the future of women's health research looks more promising than ever, paving the way for a deeper understanding of female biology and longevity. It’s time to move mountains for women’s health, one mile at a time.