Boulder & Brighter in Memory of Sue Combe

My name is Chelsea Combe, and I am fundraising for pancreatic cancer research, development and support in honor of my loving mother, Sue Combe, who lost her battle to pancreatic cancer in August of 2018. 

My mom was a wildly contagious, fun-loving soul who sparked life in everyone and everything. A mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, aunt, co-worker and friend to many. She worked passionately as a dietitian for WIC in Casper, Wyoming. While still finding time to take tap lessons, hit the Target end caps and come home to pour love into her family every night. She loved taking pictures, traveling, drinking wine with her girlfriends and sisters, riding on the back of her husband's Harley and, of course, training for the Bolder Boulder.


For my family, the Bolder Boulder has become tradition. We have participated in the beloved 10K every Memorial Day weekend for the last eighteen years. Like most runners/walkers, the majority of us are in it for a good morning workout and a cold beer at the finish line. My mom, however, had other intentions. That morning she was always the first one up. Singing, carb loading and pretending to stress about getting her bib on in time. She wore cheetah print sunnies and a statement sunhat of various styles - woman after my own heart! When the gunshot took air and the ribbon broke at the starting line, she took her pace within the crowd VERY seriously. Yet, it never took long for her camera and dance moves to sneak in. You see, Sue Combe never cared about being first in her age group or beating her time from last year. She was there for the community, the energy and the characters along the way. Elvis selfies and new friends expected, always!

Last spring, after the race, we could tell that my mom was missing some of her fire. Just a few weeks later she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer - a form of cancer known to be unforgiving as there is typically very little symptoms and a lack of treatment options. She was given a month to live. Shocked and completely heartbroken, we cherished every day with her. On August 12th, 2018, she was called home to her main stage in heaven. 

My goal in launching and leading this fundraiser is to spread awareness about the rapid yet lasting affects pancreatic cancer has on its victims and loved ones, inspire others to support the ongoing research for early detection as well as a cure and to provide hope to families just like mine.

Above all, my hope is to bring a community together to celebrate, revel in and carry on my mom's spirit, today and every day. For she has shown us nothing but unwavering love - enough to share. She would be elated to know that we were walking/running (let's call it dancing!) in her memory. 

I invite you to join the party! Please donate what you can to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - an amazing organization paving the way for hope. Meet us at the starting line in Downtown Boulder on Monday, May 27th. Show your Sue Combe colors by rocking animal print - her signature! More information for an after race get together to come!

Sign up for the Boulder Bolder here . 

Get social with us. Follow Boulder & Brighter's journey on Instagram through @chelseacombecreative and use the hashtag #boulderandbrighterforsue to share your own. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out at anytime. 

Thank you endlessly for your constant love and support. Let's be Boulder & Brighter! 

xx