Why I ride
Walking through the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders(CCBD) at the Main campus of Children’s' Hospital in Aurora, you realize the gravity of the task at hand. The doctors I've gotten to know riding through the years greet us at the door, make us wash and sterilize our hands and head through the double doors. Although the new hospital has done an amazing job with a bright cheerful atmosphere, you can see the heartache emanating from the families walking through the hallways giving the ever so polite smile, while knowing well they are suffering through life's greatest challenge. Rooms are full with children receiving life-saving treatments from toddlers watching cartoons, through high schoolers texting on their phones, just hoping to get on with their regular lives knowing nothing different then the challenges in front of them. They are life’s true inspirational stories, being strong in both the success of those cured, as the strength of those that aren’t' as lucky.
I got involved with the Wheels of Justice 8 years ago as a fun weekend of Cycling and being around friends well before I even had my own children. It has grown into an important part of my life and I was very honored last year to be given the nod to be one of the co-captains of the team in 2016. In our amazing success of raising over $400,000 last year and almost $3.5mil over 12 years, our charity is no longer optional, but the responsibility of all of us to the CCBD. All of the money that Wheels raises in the Courage Classic goes to the CCBD, to directly fund two programs that frankly would not exist without our support. We provide all of the funding for the Family counseling and psychological care for all of the children and families fighting for their lives in the program. The program gives families and the children someone to talk to, to learn from and to lean on during their treatment. Secondly, our money supports seed grants for our doctors to be able to research, apply for and receive multi-million dollar grants for new treatment procedures, therapies and cures to the cancers and blood disorders that affect so many children in our state.
Having 2 young children of my own, the thought of sitting on the opposite side of that tour, of being that family member walking the halls in a daze, not knowing the outcome of my child’s health is terrifying. We at HM Capital sponsor this event and we invite you to help as well. Those parents and children walking the halls feel helpless and in some cases hopeless. Our goal is to change that for as many families as we can. Every dollar matters and as evidenced by our group, a lot of small donations can really add up, so donate what you can. Thank you for your support and lf you have any interest in riding with us, please reach out and we will gladly get you up and going.
