We ride to give HOPE to our patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Children's Hospital Colorado. We ride for kids like Martha, Drew, Lella, Trinity, Wyatt, Lincoln, Emma, Ashton, and Hannah... just to name a few. These are real, courageous children who have faced big battles. These are kids just like yours, their friends, their cousins, their schoolmates, their teammates.
Our PICU cares for about 3,000 critically ill children every year, many are flown in from across Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountain region. We treat everything from severe respiratory illnesses and traumatic injuries to organ transplants, infections, and complex conditions involving specialties like oncology, neurology, surgery, and many, many more.
I am stepping into my fourth year as a Pediatric ICU nurse. I have seen firsthand how overwhelming, heartbreaking, yet resilient and hopeful their time in our care can be - for the kids, our patients, their families, their siblings, and our team. Every day, I’m reminded what a privilege it is to be part of these families’ lives; to care for their children and walk beside them through some of the hardest moments they may ever face. These kids will not be the last to face a life-threatening illness, and their families will not be the last to hear the words, "We're doing everything we can."
This is why I ride.
In cycling, the “peloton” is a pack of riders who take turns leading and supporting each other to conserve energy and move more efficiently. It’s a perfect metaphor for how our PICU team works every day - nurses, doctors/providers, pharmacists, therapists, chaplains, social workers, and even child life and medical dogs, all pulling together to give each child their best possible chance.
Our team hopes to raise $50,000+ for the PICU. If we fall short, every dollar will still go to where it’s needed most at Children’s Hospital Colorado. My personal goal is $500—just a small piece of something much bigger, but it can truly make a difference.
If you’re able, please donate. Your support gives our patients and families the most important thing of all: HOPE.
