I'm riding the Courage Classic in memory of my daughter, Hazel.
Hazel was diagnosed with Anaplastic Ependymoma, a type of brain cancer, when she was just 6 months old. Her care team at Children's Hospital Colorado provided the best care available, from surgery to chemotherapy to radiation. Unfortunately, several months after completing treatment, Hazel was diagnosed with a metastatic recurrence. Sadly, there is no cure for metastatic Ependymoma.
Despite Hazel’s tragic prognosis, she continued to live life with zest and enthusiasm. Like many other toddlers, Hazel loved to get out of the house and explore the world around her. She loved watching the bees on the flowers at the botanic gardens, talking to the animals at the zoo, and exploring Colorado from the comfort of a backpack on hikes. Hazel was a gentle, loving person who quietly made an impression of every person she met.
On August 4, 2014, Hazel passed away peacefully at the age of 3.
Hazel's love for exploring– and her adamantly signing "go" when she wanted to get out of the house on an adventure– inspires us to carry her spirit with us on our family's adventures today.
