Feb. 23, 2026, 8:25 a.m. MT
Climb every mountain, search high and low.
Follow every byway, every path you know.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream.
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.
A dream that will need all the love you can give.
Every day of your life for as long as you live.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream.
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.
-The Sound of Music
There was a lot of climbing Saturday and achievement of dreams for the first Cardinals Climb: Hike for Special Needs that took place at State Farm Stadium with more than 3,500 people participating.
The event was so successful that over $2 million from more than 8,000 donors was raised for the special needs community in Arizona.
Four cornerstone beneficiaries of the Arizona Cardinals Foundation will receive 100 percent of the proceeds: Barrow Neurological Foundation, SARRC (Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center), Special Olympics Arizona, and Treasure House.
Club owner Michael Bidwill, who hiked the steps in the stadium, said, “It was an awesome day on every level imaginable. We’ve said all along that this event was not about climbing in a stadium. It was about lifting up this community, creating awareness and acceptance, and raising significant funds for Arizona’s special needs community. We are beyond grateful to everyone who participated and supported today and can’t wait to begin work on an even bigger and better event in 2027.”
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In addition to many in the special needs community also present at the event were former Cardinals Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, general manager Monti Ossenfort and Cardinals tight ends Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins, wide receiver Michael Wilson, defensive lineman Darius Robinson, linebacker Owen Pappoe, center/guard Hayden Conner and quarterback Kedon Slovis.
Warner and his wife Brenda, who have a developmentally disabled son Zack, opened Treasure House in 2018 in Glendale as a residence that features a “supportive community and a personalized plan for achieving independence, inclusion, and purpose as those with IDDs (intellectual and developmental disabilities) transition into adulthood.”
Warner credited the support the Cardinals provide the special needs community and told the team website Saturday, “You’re trying to figure out what life looks like. Individuals in that situation kind of get pushed to the side. Not many people see them, not very many things are done to allow them to live a full life.
“To think about us coming here 20 years ago and all the memories we had on the football field, but to have this come together, with the Cardinals and Cardinals Charities and the special needs world, it’s home for me.”
Helping with volunteer efforts and many other resources in the planning and execution of the event were 30 team partners, including Dignity Health, Desert Financial Credit Union, Gila River Resorts & Casinos, Swire Coca-Cola and State Farm.
Those interested can still contribute until March 10 at https://www.cardinalsclimb.com.
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