A message from the CEO

“One day, the mountain that is in front of you will be so far behind, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person you become in learning to get over it… that will stay with you forever.  And that is the point of the mountain.” – Brianna Wiest

In August, I will take on one of the toughest events designed to test the human body,  both mentally and physically. I will run a 100-mile race. It’s not just any race. The Leadville 100 is considered one of the toughest – a 100-mile race over the highest mountains in the United States, the Colorado Rockies, with the starting point in the highest city in North America (Leadville at 10,200 feet elevation).

The race goes up and over several mountain passes through some of the most unforgiving terrain, and takes place above 10,000 feet topping off at 12,600 feet. The air is thin, the climb is steep, many hours are spent traversing in the dark, the pain intense – and it must be completed under 30 hours.

There will be extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sleep deprivation, pain, suffering, and lots and lots of doubt. But there will also be support, encouragement, community, compassion, gratitude, discovery … and overcoming.

The ordeal strips you raw. It’s a transformative process: running through the night, through the pain… into clarity. You are not the same person when it’s over.

You may wonder, why am I doing this? Where does my motivation come from?

I’m doing this to honor our kids at Manning Family Children’s and to bring awareness to their struggles, their strength, their resilience… and the amazing teams that support them through their significant challenges – a team that stands by their side each step of the way.

Every day, our young patients at Manning Family Children’s face their own mountains – battling cancer, Sickle Cell Disease, undergoing bone marrow transplants, healing from trauma, learning to walk again after devasting injuries, recovering from complex heart surgery. Our kids fight every day.

But their races don’t come with medals or finish lines.  They come with hospital beds, IV poles, therapy … and an unshakable will to keep going.

They fight for every step … and I will fight for every step at Leadville to honor their courage and resilience.  Their strength and spirit humble me. Our kids do not complain, they do not falter. They push on over their own mountains, fighting through it all – step by step, inch by inch, they keep going and they overcome.

And that is why I am dedicating this run to them. To honor their fight, their courage, to share their stories, to raise awareness and to remind us that true endurance is not measured in miles, but in heart.

My ask of you … join the movement!

For 70 years Manning Family Children’s has been running towards the problems that impact our kids.

Join me by sharing their stories, and donating to our cause. 

• Sponsor a mile for $1,000 and help us raise $100,000 in support of our vital mission.
• Give any amount >> 

Together, we will run even farther.

100 miles… 100 kids… endless opportunities. Let’s show them that they are not alone!