Hi, in August I will be running my dream race in Colorado, the Leadville 100 Trail Race. This was a race I watched documentary after documentary of as I recovered from cancer. So to think that in mere months I get to line up at the starting line is absolutely incredible.

I have been running ultras the last 2 years as I recovered and healed from cancer-related surgery. I had a grade 2 ependymoma (tumor) inside my cervical spinal cord that had to be removed by having both my spine and spinal cord cut open. After surgery on November 9, 2022, I spent 22 days in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk and relearn how to complete all ADLs (acts of daily living). I live with chronic pain and neuropathy; however, I'm thankful to be able to run and still be cancer-free. Yess!!!

I love being part of the ultra community and showing my kids what it means to work hard and fight for something, both as I recovered from cancer and now as I compete in ultramarathons. The ultra community is incredible. I have been encouraged when I was successful and when I failed. I have had runner friends open their homes to me so I could run a race or volunteer (which is just as important). Friends have shared athletic clothes with me, lent me a high-capacity pack before I had my own, shared their friends with me, and their stories. I'm so incredibly thankful and do my best to volunteer and give back at races.

I could use help financially as this is a race where I need crew. Crew helps with nutrition support, encouragement, and pacing. I'm bringing 2 crew with me and have two pacers from Colorado. I work as a public school dance teacher, so I don't have a lot extra each paycheck, and though I have some money set aside, I'm short the estimated amount needed. If you read all this, thank you. Some way or somehow, this is all going to work out, and thank you for taking the time to read this. Best always.