5/13/25
Celebrate Erie Canal Bicentennial: Ask Me About Canalway Challenge! - by Lisa Saunders
Lisa Saunders, a Canalway Challenge Ambassador, shows off the back of her T-shirt, which encourages folks to speak to her about taking their own Challenge!
Lisa and Jim Saunders seen completing their 360-mile Canalway Challenge walk with their "end-to-ender" sign at the Erie Canal "East End" marker in Albany on April 23, 2025.
I just became an "end-to-ender," having walked 360 miles between Buffalo and Albany to complete the Canalway Challenge. When we commenced our journey five years ago, we assumed walking a mostly level path would be easy – but there were challenges! We've been chased by mosquitoes, biting flies, hissing geese and lightning. We've endured torrential downpours, floods, ice, blinding snow, chafing underwear, and aching feet. Yet, we found a way to persevere and enjoy the beauty and engineering marvels along the way. My book, Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV, shares our adventure and struggles along the way ("Read sample to learn how and why we endured!).
Now I'm a Canalway Challenge Ambassador and excited to report that everyone can take a Challenge, with a goal that can range from 1, 15, 90, 180, 200 (only during bicentennial) and 360 miles (Challenges found on the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor website). My mom completed the One-Mile Challenge with me pushing her in a wheelchair. I am registering my walking grandson for the One-Mile Challenge with the hope I can encourage him to add his one mile to complete the 15-mile Challenge (kids can also become Junior Rangers). People can sign up as an individual or as part of a team. "People with disabilities and their family and friends are invited to take the 1st Mile Challenge or get going with Virtual Miles" (eriecanalway.org/explore/
I had registered my 360-Mile Challenge with my husband as a team: “Lisa & Jim Saunders to Stop CMV, #1 Birth Defects Virus.” The website helped me keep track of our miles, where we stopped and started, and favorite sites along the way. When we finally reached Albany on April 23, 2025, I visited New York legislators asking them to pass a bill dear to my heart (my light-hearted, one-minute video shows how we advanced our cause on the Trail.) When we reached halfway across the state, I shared our story in the 30-minute video, “Hiking the Erie Canalway Trail, Vote on 7 Wonders, Stop CMV." When we completed our trek, I was interviewed on PAC-B TV. (My PowerPoint: "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail".)
In my upcoming speaking engagements (noted below my signature), I will discuss how my husband and I walked the Erie Canalway Trail between Buffalo and Albany and the issues faced by sedentary folks seeking to become "end-to-enders." I will also share my investigation into where my Great Aunt Rebecca allegedly drove into the Canal and how my ancestor Jacob Leach, an engineer and a distiller of whiskey, helped plan the opening of the Canal in 1825 with Governor Clinton's boat parade. I will feature my choices for "The 7 Wonders of the Erie Canalway Trail" and explain how anyone can take the Challenge, which ranges from one to 360 miles.
My next goal is to take the 15-Mile Challenge as a kayaker, so perhaps we'll meet on the Erie Canal!
Sincerely,
Lisa Saunders, Canalway Challenge Ambassador and author of Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV
Upcoming presentations include:
Hear the story of Canalway Challenge Ambassador, Lisa Saunders, who walked the entire trail from Buffalo to Albany, to bring attention to a worthy cause (congenital CMV), and to solve the mystery of her great aunt's tragic death. Lisa is the author of several books, including, Walking the Erie Canalway Trail and Mystic Seafarer's Trail.
March 3, 2026, 6:30pm, Beauchamp Historical Club, Van Buren Town Hall (Baldwinsville, NY)
Saturday. June 20, 2026 1-3pm, Clay Historical Association.
Saturday. June 20, 2026 1-3pm, Clay Historical Association.
BIO: Lisa Saunders of Baldwinsville is a Canalway Challenge Ambassador, an "end-to-ender," having walked 360 miles between Buffalo and Albany, is an interviewer for PAC-B TV and in addition to "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail," she is the author of several books, such as "Mystic Seafarer's Trail," which features her defeat as a sailor when she abandoned ship.
Lisa said, "I am am also a descendant of Jacob Leach, a Canal engineer who was on the planning committee when the boat parade came through Lyons 200 years ago!
"Jacob Leach (1777-1853), one of the first shopkeepers in Lyons. He was a miller of flour, distiller of whiskey, a member of Humanity Lodge, and an engineer on the first and Expanded Erie Canal. Jacob had his first whiskey distillery on the same property as The H. G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Museum, but on the banks of Ganargua Creek before it was moved because of canal construction.
"Jacob helped celebrate the opening of the original Erie Canal by welcoming Governor DeWitt Clinton, a passenger on the Seneca Chief, to Lyons. The boat parade “occurred Oct.26, 1825, at the time the two ends of the canal were united in Lockport, and the 'waters were let over the mountain range.' The unique feature of the celebration throughout the state was the transmission of the exact time by firing of cannon – 24 and 32 pounders – distributed along the canal eight miles apart, a total distance 365 miles from Lake Erie to the Hudson River." In Lyons, the "32 pounder, one of the cannon in the chain across the state, was stationed on ‘an eminence west of the village overlooking the canal.’ At sunrise a salute of eight guns was fired from this piece. After the gun had passed along this ‘grand salute from the east,’ a procession was formed which marched through the principal streets of the village to the ‘new brick meeting house’ where the exercises of the day were performed consisting of prayer, psalm singing and oration by G. H. Chapin"(“’Grip's’ Historical Souvenir of Lyons," 1904).
"Jacob's 10th and last child, Augustus (also my ancestor) was born during the famous Erie Canal 1825 boat parade and grew up to become an Erie Canal engineer. Work on the Enlarged Erie Canal began in 1835 with Jacob Leach as resident engineer in the region. Jacob built (with Robert Ennis) "the section extending west from Perrine's hill to the poorhouse lock [Lock 56]" (The Sisson Family of Lyons, NY, 2005, p. 233). Jacob Leach died in 1853 at the age of 75. He is buried at the Lyons Rural Cemetery."
BIO: Lisa Saunders of Baldwinsville is a Canalway Challenge Ambassador, an "end-to-ender," having walked 360 miles between Buffalo and Albany, is an interviewer for PAC-B TV and in addition to "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail," she is the author of several books, such as "Mystic Seafarer's Trail," which features her defeat as a sailor when she abandoned ship.
Lisa said, "I am am also a descendant of Jacob Leach, a Canal engineer who was on the planning committee when the boat parade came through Lyons 200 years ago!
"Jacob Leach (1777-1853), one of the first shopkeepers in Lyons. He was a miller of flour, distiller of whiskey, a member of Humanity Lodge, and an engineer on the first and Expanded Erie Canal. Jacob had his first whiskey distillery on the same property as The H. G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Museum, but on the banks of Ganargua Creek before it was moved because of canal construction.
"Jacob helped celebrate the opening of the original Erie Canal by welcoming Governor DeWitt Clinton, a passenger on the Seneca Chief, to Lyons. The boat parade “occurred Oct.26, 1825, at the time the two ends of the canal were united in Lockport, and the 'waters were let over the mountain range.' The unique feature of the celebration throughout the state was the transmission of the exact time by firing of cannon – 24 and 32 pounders – distributed along the canal eight miles apart, a total distance 365 miles from Lake Erie to the Hudson River." In Lyons, the "32 pounder, one of the cannon in the chain across the state, was stationed on ‘an eminence west of the village overlooking the canal.’ At sunrise a salute of eight guns was fired from this piece. After the gun had passed along this ‘grand salute from the east,’ a procession was formed which marched through the principal streets of the village to the ‘new brick meeting house’ where the exercises of the day were performed consisting of prayer, psalm singing and oration by G. H. Chapin"(“’Grip's’ Historical Souvenir of Lyons," 1904).
"Jacob's 10th and last child, Augustus (also my ancestor) was born during the famous Erie Canal 1825 boat parade and grew up to become an Erie Canal engineer. Work on the Enlarged Erie Canal began in 1835 with Jacob Leach as resident engineer in the region. Jacob built (with Robert Ennis) "the section extending west from Perrine's hill to the poorhouse lock [Lock 56]" (The Sisson Family of Lyons, NY, 2005, p. 233). Jacob Leach died in 1853 at the age of 75. He is buried at the Lyons Rural Cemetery."
Photo caption for the following images
Jim and Lisa Saunders pushing Mary Ann Avazian on the Erie Canalway Trail in DeWitt for a photo shoot for Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Photographs by Call of the Loon Productions.
NOTE TO: local parks, businesses, recreation departments and canal sites:
If you wish to promote the Canalway Challenge in your community, I can have the following supplies sent to you:
Outdoor banners (3' x 6'). Banners will arrive directly from the printer, rolled up in a tube.
Posters (11" x 17"). Usually mailed in a cardboard envelope so they don't get wrinkled.
Rack Cards
Trail Cards
Stickers
If you just want a flier size hanging for the wall, click here: Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor :Promotional Toolkit
Please give me your address where they should be sent, or contact:
Ashley Quimby-Simoni, Communications & Outreach Manager, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, at Ashley_Quimby-Simoni@eriecanalway.org (for my interview with Ashley, click on "Erie Canalway Challenge").
Media coverage of our 360-mile Challenge
Eagle Newsroom: “B’ville couple completes Erie Canalway Challenge: Saunders continue to spread CMV awareness” (Edwards, A., May 19,, 2025). (Print)
Eagle Newsroom: “This CMV Awareness Month, mother continues to share her story” (Edwards, A., June 19, 2024).
CNY Central: Baldwinsville mother applauds federal push to protect babies from CMV - CNY Central (Coleman, M.,March 8,2024).
The Citizen: “Bill in Congress aims to boost CMV newborn screening, research” (Robert Harding, Mar 8, 2024).
NBC3: Baldwinsville couple's advocacy inspires legislation for CMV awareness (Coleman, M., Nov. 30, 2023).
Eagle Newsroom: “Baldwinsville couple walking Erie Canal, raising awareness,”(Baldwinsville Messenger, print, Davis, J., Oct. 25, 2023).
Democrat and Chronicle and Lohud,: “New York begins screening newborns for CMV virus that causes birth defects. What to know” (Robinson, D., Oct. 4, 2023)
USA TODAY: This virus is a leading cause birth defects. Why isn't it screened more? (Eduardo Cuevas, 2023, print).
The Citizen: “NY to begin pilot CMV newborn screening program” (Harding, R. Sept. 28, 2023).
Public Access Channel Baldwinsville: The Path to CMV Prevention - 03/20/2023 (my 30-year cytomegalovirus journey and laws passed and hoped for).
The Post-Standard: "How a Baldwinsville mother fought for 30 years to pass a law that might have saved her daughter", Emma Vallelunga, Jan.1, 2023, Syracuse.com, Dec. 27, 2022 (Facebook).
CNYCentral.com:”Baldwinsville mom celebrates new law in daughter's name to protect pregnant women, babies,” Coleman, M., Dec.15, 2022 (Facebook).
The River Reporter: Viral alert: A silent virus that scars for life, Dec.13,2022
New York Family: “Elizabeth’s Law for CMV Education Passed in New York”, Kaitlyn Riggio, Dec. 8, 2022.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor: “Congratulations to Lisa Saunders, Author/TV Host and her husband, Jim, two Canalway Challengers who have walked half the length of the Erie Canal to raise awareness [of] the impacts of cytomegalovirus (CMV)” Dec. 6, 2022
The Citizen: “Our View: Elizabeth’s Law poised to help families avoid heartache,”The Citizen Editorial Board, Dec. 1, 2022
The Citizen: "Hochul signs 'Elizabeth's Law,' named for Auburn native's daughter, to raise CMV awareness", Robert Harding, Nov. 29, 2022.
Twi-Lights, “Trail Works Inc. Recognizes CMV Awareness on National Trails Day” Fall 2021, p.5-7, TRAIL WORKS, INC.
The Citizen: "NY lawmakers OK CMV awareness bill named in honor of CNY couple's daughter", Robert Harding, June 1, 2022.
Eagle Newsroom, "Baldwinsville couple advocates for 'Elizabeth's Law' to stop cytomegalovirus: Bill named in memory of their daughter," Dec. 14, 2021.
Spectrum News: "Couple pushes for law in memory of their daughter" (Houghtaling, J., Jul. 01, 2021). Includes an interview with Dr. Sunil Sood.
Finger Lakes Times, "Trail of Hope celebration in Lyons marks CMV Month in New York" (Buchiere, S., Jun 11, 2021).
Finger Lakes Times: "MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Couple brings awareness to threat to infant health: CMV", (Buchiere, S.,June 4, 2021).
The Citizen: "NY Senate passes bill, named for CNY couple's daughter, to boost CMV awareness", (Harding, R., June 2, 2021).
Syracuse Woman magazine, "Fighting CMV One Step at a Time (p.28)", (Vallelunga, E., May 2021)
The Citizen: "'Elizabeth's law,' named for CNY couple's daughter, would boost CMV awareness", (Harding, R., May 4,2021)
5/5/25
Walking 360 Miles to Complete Erie Canalway Challenge: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV
I am a “Canalway Challenge Ambassador” and finally finished walking 360 miles to complete the Erie Canalway Challenge between Buffalo and Albany on April 23, 2025 -- just in time for the Erie Canal's Bicentennial!
Please see the following press release and photographs for more information.
Lisa Saunders
Baldwinsville, New York
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baby Boomers Walk 360 Miles to Complete Erie Canalway Challenge
Searched for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer on Way to Stop CMV--the #1 Birth Defects Virus That Claimed Daughter
In search of 7 wonders, bathrooms and beer, a Baldwinsville, New York, couple walked 360 miles between Buffalo and Albany on the Erie Canalway Trail, finishing in Albany on April 23, 2025, to raise awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral cause of autism and hearing loss. They registered their Canalway Challenge with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor as "Lisa & Jim Saunders to Stop CMV, #1 Birth Defects Virus."
When the baby boomers commenced their journey, they assumed walking a mostly level path would be easy – but there were challenges! They've been chased by mosquitoes, biting flies, hissing geese and lightning. They endured torrential downpours, floods, ice, blinding snow, chafing underwear, and aching feet. Yet, they found ways to persevere, enjoying the beauty and engineering marvels along the way. Tackling different sections of the Trail about once a month, it took them five years to complete the Challenge.
Lisa's updated book, "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV" includes her investigation into where and how her great Aunt Rebecca drove into the Canal over 80 years ago, supposedly to end her life, and how her ancestor Jacob Leach, a distiller of whiskey, helped plan the opening of the first Erie Canal by welcoming Governor Clinton and the Seneca Chief boat parade. Lisa also discusses the issues faced by modern, sedentary folks who seek to become "end-to-enders" -- those who walk, bike or kayak the entire Erie Canal -- and how she overcame them.
Congress established the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in 2000 because the canal “facilitated the movement of ideas …like the abolition of slavery and…women's rights…across upstate New York to the rest of the country…” (106th Congress). Jim and Lisa were determined to become "end-to-enders" on the Erie Canalway Trail because they have a women's rights message to move from "upstate New York to the rest of the country" – that women have the right to know how to protect their pregnancies from congenital CMV. The couple left Stop CMV rocks, with prevention tips (CDC.gov/CMV), along the Trail to comply with Congress' recommendation that "more effort be taken to counsel women of childbearing age of the effect this virus can have on their children" (112th Congress, 2011).
The day after Jim and Lisa reached the "East End" Erie Canal mile marker in Albany, Lisa visited the Legislative Office Building to ask the Assembly Health Committee members to pass two new CMV bills (A3956 and A3074) that would ensure every newborn be tested for congenital CMV and be referred to specialists within the first critical days of life (for possible early interventions such as antivirals). In 2022, the New York governor had signed "Elizabeth's Law," named in memory of their daughter, to ensure that child care providers and pregnant women received educational materials on how to protect their pregnancies from CMV (for example, not kissing toddlers around the mouth or sharing food/drinks with them).
Though now an “end-to-ender,” Lisa can still be seen on the Trail as a “Canalway Challenge Ambassador,” handing out materials to encourage other Trail users to take the 1st, 15, 90, 180, 200, or 360-mile Challenge. Lisa appreciates the accessibility of the Trail and pushed her mother in a wheelchair so Mom could complete the One-Mile Canalway Challenge. Lisa can be seen on the Trail in videos, "Erie Canal Trail: Stop Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Birth Defects. Pass "Elizabeth's Law" (2022) and “Hiking the Erie Canalway Trail, Vote on 7 Wonders, Stop CMV” (PAC-B TV, 2023).
To reach Lisa Saunders about speaking to your group about her Erie Canalway Trail experiences and/or congenital CMV, email her at: LisaSaunders42@gmail.com. In addition to "Walking the Erie Canalway Trail," Lisa is the author of several books, such as "Mystic Seafarer's Trail," which features her defeat as a sailor when she abandoned ship.
For more information about the Canalway Challenge, visit: eriecanalway.org/explore/
###
Lisa Saunders with Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, sponsor of two 2025 cytomegalovirus bills: A3956 ("Requires cytomegalovirus screening for every newborn") and A3074 ("Requires reporting of positive cytomegalovirus results") on April 24, 2025.
Lisa Saunders at the New York State Capitol on April 24, 2025.
Lisa and Jim Saunders seen at the Erie Canal "West End" marker at Canalside, Buffalo.
Jim and Lisa Saunders pushing Lisa's mom, Mary Ann Avazian, on the Erie Canalway Trail in DeWitt, New York, for a photo shoot for Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Photographs by Call of the Loon Productions.
All Photo Captions:
- Lisa and Jim Saunders seen in their CMV T-shirts completing the 360-mile Canalway Challenge walk with their "Stop CMV" sign at the Erie Canal "East End" marker in Albany on April 23, 2025.
- Lisa and Jim Saunders seen completing their 360-mile Canalway Challenge walk with their "end-to-ender" sign at the Erie Canal "East End" marker in Albany on April 23, 2025. (Two available photos included - one with and without the Canalway Challenge logo).
- Stop CMV rock and New York State Capitol on April 24, 2025.
- Stop CMV rock and New York State Legislative Office Building on April 24, 2025.
- Lisa Saunders with Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, sponsor of two 2025 cytomegalovirus bills: A3956 ("Requires cytomegalovirus screening for every newborn") and A3074 ("Requires reporting of positive cytomegalovirus results") on April 24, 2025.
- Lisa Saunders at the New York State Capitol on April 24, 2025.
- Lisa and Jim Saunders seen at the Erie Canal "West End" marker at Canalside, Buffalo.
- Jim and Lisa Saunders pushing Lisa's mom, Mary Ann Avazian, on the Erie Canalway Trail in DeWitt, New York, for a photo shoot for Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Photographs by Call of the Loon Productions.
Link to slide show, Walking the Erie Canalway Trail: A Search for 7 Wonders, Bathrooms and Beer to Stop CMV
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