Please note that donations will be accepted up to August 31, 2024
Our team has been riding every July for the last 15 years. We have supported the Mitochondrial Clinic and have raised OVER $1MM for the Clinic. We've done a lot thanks to your support. We started our team because of our precious granddaughter Samantha, who would be 18 on July 18. She passed passed away twelve years ago, a week after her fourth birthday, from a rare mitochondrial disease. As you can see by her picture, Samantha was a special child, despite her physical challenges. We knew there was more to do in her memory and we have been helping families dealing with this terrible disease.
Rare disesases do not receive the funding for research and modalities for treatment, and that is why donations to our team and Children's Hospital are so important.
What do we do with the donations to Summits for Samantha?
1. We support the ONLY mitochondrial clinic serving the Rocky Mountain area. Our team has been the sole supporter of the clinic that sees both children and adults. We provide support in various ways to the children, adults, and families impacted by this disease.
2. Due to our funding the Clinic has been able to participate in various clinical trials.
3. The research team at Children's has been doing amazing research including working with skin cells for a faster way to provide a diagnosis and eliminate the need for more evasive procedures. The research is receiving international attention. There is also research going on for new therapies to treat this disease.
and it continues to be personal....
A few years ago our son Ryan was diagnosed with a "latent" mitochondrial disease. He has been able to receive an early stage drug under a compassionate care exemption. All of this has been possible due to the funding we have provided the clinic.
As you can see your donation goes a long way and you can make an impact. We have made an impact because of our donations. Please help support our ride and our efforts to help those who have this terrible rare disease. Thank you for your generous support to Summits for Samantha!
