Pathway Society’s Everest ride aims to fund new San Jose detox center

By AI, Created 6:53 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Pathway Society CEO Gary Montrezza will bike an Everest-equivalent route in Los Gatos on May 21 to raise money for a new Withdrawal Management Center in downtown San Jose. The fundraiser is designed to help equip the facility, which is slated to open later this summer, and organizers are targeting $40,000 to $50,000 or more.

Why it matters: - Pathway Society is trying to close the gap between construction funding and startup needs for its new Withdrawal Management Center in downtown San Jose. - The fundraiser is meant to cover essentials such as medical equipment, beds, furnishings and program supplies. - The ride also aims to spotlight recovery as a community issue, not just a medical one.

What happened: - Pathway Society announced the inaugural “Everest” fundraiser for Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Los Gatos, California. - CEO Gary Montrezza will ride a route mapped in Los Gatos that equals 29,029 feet of climbing, the height of Mt. Everest. - The event starts with a press conference at 12 p.m. at Purple Onion, 26 East Main St., Los Gatos, CA 95030. - A celebration follows from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Civic Park, 110 E. Main Street, Los Gatos. - The ride and events are tied to Pathway’s new detoxification facility in downtown San Jose, which is set to open later this summer.

The details: - Montrezza plans to repeat the hill-climb segment more than 100 times to complete the equivalent elevation gain. - The ride is expected to take about 16 to 17 hours. - The event goal is to raise $40,000 to $50,000 or more. - Supporters and sponsors include Valley Services as “Champion Sponsor,” along with Purple Onion, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., Pizza My Heart, Costco and Target. - Giordana and Italy Bike Tours are also supporting the event from Italy. - Pathway Society says construction of the facility has already been funded through various grants. - Montrezza compared the recovery journey to scaling a mountain and said the fundraiser reflects that challenge. - The event is an “Everesting” ride, a format defined as climbing the equivalent of Mt. Everest in a single attempt by repeating a hill climb until 29,029 feet is reached in under 24 hours. - Only 30,000 people in 100 countries have ever completed such a ride. - Supporters are expected to join Montrezza at intervals during the ride. - Los Gatos Mayor Rob Moore and San Jose District Attorney Jeff Rosen are among the participants. - Montrezza said he hopes teams will join in future years and that the ride can become a lasting fundraiser.

Between the lines: - The event is built to do more than raise cash. It is also designed to broaden the public message around addiction recovery. - The participation of local officials suggests the effort is being framed as a civic cause, not only a nonprofit fundraiser. - The Everest theme gives a visual shorthand for the difficulty of recovery and the scale of the challenge Pathway wants donors to engage with.

What’s next: - Pathway Society will open the Withdrawal Management Center later this summer. - Organizers expect future Recovery Ride events to include teams and broader fundraising participation. - Sponsorship opportunities remain available through Pathway Society’s recovery ride page.

The bottom line: - Pathway Society is using a high-profile endurance ride to finance the final needs of a new San Jose detox center and to turn recovery into a public community cause.