Ross Hayduk will be taking on a major challenge next month--hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in less than six months. As a person living with HIV and bipolar disorder, Ross Hayduk of San Francisco, is no stranger to challenges. But on March 11, 2012, Hayduk plans on embarking on the biggest challenge of his life. He will begin hiking the Appalachian Trail with a goal of completing the 2,184 miles, from Georgia to Maine.. His planned finish date is September 6, 2012, on his 45th birthday.

Upon his completion, Hayduk will be the first openly HIV positive "thru hiker" -- as those who complete the trail are called—to complete the journey in fewer than six months.

Only 25 percent of those who set out on the Appalachian Trail each year follow through to the end; many quit within the first week. Hayduk has plans to hike with friends and family in order to accomplish the feat.

Accompanying him on part of the journey will be Oscar, his four-year-old Kelpie (Australian cattle dog) mix Hayduk adopted from San Francisco Animal Care and Control. "Oscar has been with me for three and a half years," Hayduk says. "Along with a medication regimen, professional care and proper diet and exercise, Oscar's companionship has been an important part of treating my bipolar disorder. Without Oscar, my life would not be as full or complete."

Hayduk's hike is not only for personal satisfaction and accomplishment. Along with the hike, Hayduk is raising funds for four non-profit organizations: the National AIDS Memorial Grove, PAWS: Pets Are Wonderful Support, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

"I am challenging friends, family and anyone who cares about these organizations to give as much as you are able," he says. His goal is to raise $21,840.

To prepare for this arduous hike, Hayduk participates in a number of athletic endeavors, including cycling, running, and, of course, hiking. He competed in the 2002 Sydney Gay Games, winning a silver medal in Track and Field. At the 2006 Gay Games in Chicgo, he won a Gold Medal in Power Lifting.

Hayduk has set up a website, where supporters can keep track of his progress. The site also has links to the four donation beneficiaries.

"This is not a vacation," Hayduk says. "This is a serious challenge. I want to show that there is hope dealing with HIV and mental-health issue. I'm not doing this just for myself, but for the countless others dealing with the same issues I'm dealing with every day."