Why I ride

Dear Family and Friends,

Update: Tonight is your last chance to donate for the 2022 Courage Classic. Please consider a gift to help these kids. Tonight we are thinking about Eli. He is in the fight of his young life. Let's show Eli and his family that we are here for them. 

How often do we have a chance to be the light? To never give up? The past year has brought challenges, triumphs, joy, and sadly… loss. Yet today each one of us has the opportunity to never give up and to be the light.

I am excited to let you know that I am riding in the Courage Classic bicycle tour benefiting Children's Hospital Colorado again this year. This will be my sixth Courage Classic. I have trained to conquer mountain passes in our beautiful Colorado high country. I hope you will join me... Together, let’s persevere and be the light for children and families affected by childhood cancer and blood disorders.

I am riding with the Wheels of Justice team as in previous years, and my personal goal is to raise $5,400.00 for the children and families who rely on Children's Hospital Colorado for care. Each year I get to deepen my relationships with old teammates and meet new ones. Many of these teammates are families of children whose lives are cut short or forever altered by childhood cancer.

This year we will ride to honor the memory of Cooper Deming. We will also hold close in our hearts the memories of Martha Riedel, a teammate whose seven year battle ended this spring, and Koby Gruenwald, both of whom rode with us in years past. We will ride with all three of their families again this year.

We will also ride the third Tour de Koby the following weekend. Koby’s brother, Micah, organizes this 40 mile ride around Denver that includes stops at significant places in Koby’s life including Children’s Hospital and Koby’s school.

While Koby taught us to find light in the darkness, Cooper’s motto was never give up. Cooper was an active 12 year old who loved baseball, the Rockies, the color purple, bacon cheeseburgers and s’mores! He was a great big brother to Calvin and Helen. Recently, we rode a training ride with his whole family; they generously shared stories and showed us important places in Cooper’s life including his favorite baseball diamond.

To help you understand why I do this, please take a few minutes and meet Cooper and his family on our team page at https://www.wheelsofjustice.com.

These children, along with their parents and siblings, never give up. It is not an option. As their teammates, we never give up. I am asking you to join me in helping to be the light for them and the many (too many) other children and families who are still fighting.

Whether you are in Colorado or farther away, I am asking for your support because Children's Colorado is near and dear to our family and our community. As I ride the Courage Classic this year, Kathryn will be working as a Pediatric Resident at Children's Hospital Colorado. Our family remains strongly committed to this outstanding organization! Children's also provides care for kids from around the country and contributes to the health of children and families nationwide through outstanding research.

I invite you to join me in being the light in the darkness and providing healthier futures for the thousands of kids served every year by Children's Colorado. It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause by making your tax-deductible donation online. To donate, select the green Donate Now button above.

This is for Cooper. And Martha. And Koby. This is for their families. Join us. Let them know that we will never give up. Always be the light. Thank you!

With gratitude,

Lori