Jason Horton Funeral and Memorial Fund

Hello friends and family,

This Gofundme was created to generate funds towards funeral and memorial costs for my brother, Jason Horton. He was an incredible person who, despite having so much stacked against him, persevered through one challenge after another. I think it's important to share what he went through to understand the person he was as well as share his story of defying so many odds. 

Jason was born with a mutated RB1 gene inherited from our mother. His battle began immediately. This particular gene causes retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye), as well as subsequent cancers later on in life. These secondary cancers manifest as osteosarcoma (bone) and melanoma (skin). Our mother, Leigh Anne Horton (41), and sister, Kristen Horton (7) also lost their lives to cancers caused by this gene mutation. Our father passed away from unrelated causes. 

Throughout Jason's journey battling cancers, he lost an eye, much of his hearing, a leg, and several ribs. He endured years of chemotherapy, hospital visits, and surgeries. So many would have crumbled under such misfortune, but Jason tackled everything with immense strength. So much so that a new hash tag, #JasonStrong, was birthed from that vigor. 

As someone immensely active in sports and the Special Olympics community,  Jason amassed an amazing tribe of stellar individuals. He met each challenge head on, thriving on and off the field. 

Jason's latest battle with cancer lead to complications that, unfortunately, caused great strain on his heart. Jason passed away during the early hours on March 20, 2022, surrounded by friends and family. It is difficult to find the words to describe his impact on those that knew him. Beyond his presence in the Special Olympics community, he was a beloved brother and uncle. 

We are in the process of figuring out funeral services for Jason with two tentative memorial service dates for March 28th, 2022 OR March 29th, 2022. 

Jason's passing was unexpected and we are struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of the service and burial/cremation. The Gofundme goal is my best estimate of costs based on my initial discussions with funeral homes in the Denver area. 

I appreciate everyone that has offered to help out during this time and those that have reached out to share their Jason stories <3

Warm Regards,

Ryan Horton - Jason's brother