This Saturday June 23rd, there is a great way to stay healthy and contribute to a good cause at the same time. The 4th annual Climb for Courage is happening at Falcon Stadium on the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. All the funds raised will go toward the construction and operation of the new Children’s Hospital currently under construction in Colorado Springs, on the north campus of UCHealth Memorial.
Jenny Stafford is the Philanthropy Director with Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, Colorado Springs. “We are one only 1 of 3 cities of our size or larger in this country that don’t have a comprehensive children’s hospital. This new hospital is going to change that for families from all across this community.”
Thomas Echelmeyer’s son Tom was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 3 years old. At the time, Thomas was stationed overseas in the Air Force. The family was transferred back to Colorado Springs and luckily the needed treatment was already available in the springs, at the Children’s existing outpatient clinic. Tom is now getting ready to turn 9 and has been in remission for 2 years. Thomas knows the new hospital will bring that same convenience his family was lucky enough to have to other families in our area.
Thomas says, “Families won’t have to do that driving. To have to go through treatment and then to have to drive an hour, an hour plus on each end of the treatment just adds more stress to the family, and for that individual going to treatment especially a young as a child.”
And yes, the Climb for Courage is hard but the right mind set can really bring your perspective into focus says Thomas. “Absolutely it’s hard, but you know going through 3 years and 4 months of treatment that was hard as well, so we’re doing this for the kids, for the hospital.”
You can register in person Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. if you would like to take part in the Climb for Courage.
