Hi everyone,

Our friend and family member in all but blood, Jarrett Hyder, is in a fight for his life. Commonly referred to as "Double T", Jarrett is a coach for the Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team and was recently diagnosed with stage 2-3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Despite being one of the healthiest, most active, happy human beings you could ever meet, this rare form of cancer has managed to flip his life and all of ours upside down.

What is Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. White blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and growths throughout the body.

Treatment

Starting at the beginning of July, Jarrett will go through a series of chemotherapy and experimental infusions to extinguish the cancer, which is located in his chest and lungs. It will be an aggressive treatment, it will be challenging, and we can help make it easier for him.

As a coach, Jarrett didn't choose his career for the money, but rather to share his deep love of snowboarding with as many people as possible. Selfless doesn't begin to describe the kind of person "Double T" is. As a coach, he's firm, fair, funny, and most importantly he brings the best out of his athletes.

How did it happen?

As with most things in life, the greatest blessings can come in the disguise of accidents.

In late April of this year, Jarrett took a fall riding through the park. It wasn't anything out of the usual, and therefore he didn't pay any extra attention to it. Shortly after he got back on the chairlift, he felt the need to cough something up. To his surprise and fear, thick red blood came pouring out of his mouth. Being the absolute unit that he is, he shook it off and kept riding. However, the blood kept pouring out. It finally got bad enough to make him visit Ski Patrol.

The blood flow stopped and Ski Patrol couldn't find anything seriously wrong with him. At their recommendation, he admitted himself to the local hospital.

What happened next is the blessing that will have saved his life. Expecting to hear news about what was causing the bleeding, the doctors informed him of a very different finding. Two lumps were found in his chest and lungs. Without a biopsy, it would impossible to know what they were, but it was concerning enough for his doctors to set up appointments with Cancer Treatment centers.

Who Jarrett really is

The backstory behind Jarrett's cancer isn't the important part of this message.

It's HOW he processed the news and what he wanted to do facing the terrifying uncertainty now laid out in front of him that speaks to Jarrett's character. When he first opened up about the accident and what the doctors found, he had already decided that he would was going to make the most of this "opportunity". "Opportunity"... he could have cancer!! Most people would be going in and out of panic attacks while playing the slideshow of their life. But most people aren't Jarrett. He had made up his mind to take this battle head-on, seeing the struggle as an opportunity to grow and share his journey in the hopes of inspiring others.

The Goal

Our goal is to let Jarrett focus on what he needs to do, fight this battle. He and his father are moving to Los Angeles to be near his treatment center for a MINIMUM of 6 months. That's 6 months of ridiculously priced LA rents, medical bills, and a host of other living expenses that come with having to uproot your life. He'll be going through treatment at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles.

It's near impossible to predict how much will be needed, but like all big goals, it's better to shoot for the stars and land on the moon. We're looking to raise $75,000 to give Jarrett the peace of mind him and his family need during these terrifying times. 100% of unused funds will be donated to the City of Hope so that they can continue to fight cancer on behalf of their patients.

Milestone Breakdown

$20,000 raised, a 2% donation will be made

$35,000 raised, a 5% donation will be made

$50,000 raised, a 10% donation will be made

anything above $60,000 raised, a 15% donation will be made

Where will your donations go?

$8 - a smoothie, chemo can give you a sore throat

$30 - copay for doctor’s visits; anti-nausea medication

$50 - meals for a day; a round of antibiotics

$100 - a tank of gas to & from the hospital for a month; labs for blood work

$200 - MRI copay

$300 - CT scan copay

$500 - groceries for a month

$900 - health insurance premium for one month

$1000 - car insurance for the year

$2000 - one surprise medical bill

$2600 - one month of rent

$4000 - lost wages for one month

$5000 - $10,000 - experimental cancer treatments for one month

$8000 - health insurance deductible

Jarrett is a self-made man who's never asked for a dime he hasn't earned. He’s happiest gliding down snow-covered slopes and spending quality time with his friends and family. If it's not already clear, Jarrett is the type of kind-hearted soul everyone wishes to have in their lives. The type of person that's ALWAYS there when you need him. If it were up to him, this fundraiser wouldn’t even exist. But that's why it’s our turn to be there for HIM. Just as he teaches and supports everyone else on and off the snow, it's our turn to ride alongside him as he tackles these new challenges. The fight against cancer is inherently difficult, but we can do our part to make it just a little easier for him.

#RideWithJarrett

"A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have." - Irish Proverb