I ride to give hope to Children’s Hospital Colorado patients like Sofia.
Eating has always made 17-year-old Sofia’s stomach hurt. Eventually, she was diagnosed with gastroparesis, which means her stomach wasn’t emptying properly, along with a form of disordered eating stemming from the terrible pain she experienced during digestion. She also has a blood circulation disorder and a very rare connective tissue disorder that affects every system in her body. A multi-disciplinary care team has helped Sofia mitigate her symptoms and work through her pain and medical trauma.
The Courage Classic is an opportunity to support positive outcomes and healthier futures for kids like Sofia.
In 2019, I was fortunate enough to bike 4500 miles from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK alongside 80 incredible teammates through a non-profit called Texas 4000 with the mission to raise funds for cancer research and support services. Throughout the ride, we engaged in story-sharing and cancer prevention advocacy with numerous communities throughout the US and Canada. Since that ride, I have gotten to care for truly courageous and inspiring kids battling cancer or blood disorders during my medical training. I ride for my loved ones, my T4K teammates, the loved ones they rode for, the communities we connected with, and all families at CHCO affected by cancer and blood disorders.
