Media Adivsory: Celebrate MBA student’s record-breaking hike

WHAT: Celebration of Mike McLaughlin, Olin Business School MBA student who recently completed a 2,500-mile hike for charity, becoming what is believed to be the first person to through-hike the Appalachian and Ozark Trails back-to-back.

BACKROUND: McLaughlin embarked in February on a seven-month journey to raise awareness and funding for the St. Louis Family Resource Center and for schools for neglected blind children in Africa, the cause of fellow MBA student Brook James, who is legally blind.

McLaughlin was emotionally and physically abused as a child at the hands of his mother and stepfather — a tragedy in its own right, but one which he says helped prepare him for this challenge.

McLaughlin’s MBA class at Olin has rallied behind the cause, helping to raise funds through events, parties and other outreach efforts.

For more information, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/23441.aspx.

WHEN: 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2

WHERE: May Aditorium in the lower level of Simon Hall. For a campus map, go to wustl.edu/community/visitors/maps/danforthmap.pdf.