In support of the Children's Hospital of Colorado, I have taken on the challenge of training for the Courage Classic - an 80 mile bike ride (with 6,500' elevation gain!) in the mountains of Colorado on July 15, 2023 in order to raise (hopefully over) $1,000 for Children's Hospital of Colorado. It takes more than one person to make up a team and that’s why I’m asking you to donate to my fundraising page! I am fundraising with the Wheels of Justice group (https://www.wheelsofjustice.com/).

Here's my why: Many organizations supported my sister when she was going thorugh cancer treatment as a young adult. And she is now in remission because of research and care that was developed years ago. Quite simply, the more we can support research, care, and hope, the more lives will be saved. 

It was a late afternoon in May 2014 when I got an unexpected phone call from my big sister. We usually plan our calls in advance but this was out of the blue. Though I was aware she went to her doctor earlier that day to check up on a lump she had noticed on her collar bone, it was never on my mind that it would be a negative diagnosis. After all, she was a spry 28-year-old who loved running half marathons and eating spinach with every meal.

With her typical grace and incredible strength, Erin told me that she had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. Over the next six months, Erin underwent chemotherapy and radiation. She is one of the strongest people I know, not only physically but emotionally strong as well. Though exhausting and painful, she came out of each chemo session making jokes (about the unworldly color it turns your pee) and making friends (with the other patients and the nurses). Through this time was trying, it brought the five members of my family even closer and Erin and I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of quality time together as we were both living in Northern California.

As of November 2014, I'm proud to say that Erin is officially in remission!!!

In fundraising, I hope to provide support and hope for other families as well as further childhood cancer research. I appreciate your generosity and please know that it makes a difference for patients like Erin who have struggled with cancer and other life threatening conditions.

Oh, and she still eats spinach every day and kicks my butt in half marathons. Some things never change :)