Over the last 10 years working in Aspen, Kate and I have seen the results of the great work Challenge Aspen does. We have also had the opportunity to make a personal connection with Challenge Aspen through getting to know many of the people that make up the team. The adaptive skiing and snowboarding opportunities that Challenge Aspen provides have always been the most visible activities to me, but they do so much more than that throughout the year - river rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, yoga, camping, fishing.... all for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. The people Challenge Aspen works with everyday would not normally have access to the opportunities and activities that are opened up to them. The programs that leave the biggest impression on me are through Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (CAMO). CAMO holds retreats for wounded military and their families with a wide variety of wounds. One retreat that demonstrates the wide variety of Challenge Aspen's programming brings together service women who have been sexually abused while serving. The breadth of programming that Challenge Aspen provides is too great for me to quickly summarize, but it is amazing what a day or week of reflecting, learning, and playing in the mountains can do for a person. Challenge Aspen truly does change lives through outdoor recreation.

When the opportunity came to help support Challenge Aspen, it was an easy decision to join the effort. The Challenge Aspen Marathon Team will travel to Iceland this year to run the Reykjavik Marathon and raise more than $50,000. I will join them, and I have committed to fundraise $3,950 - not an easy feat, but with your help, I can do it. Please donate any amount you are able. You donation is tax deductible, will go to a fantastic cause, and I will be eternally grateful to you.

Thank you! With your help, I can reach my fundraising goal and Challenge Aspen can continue doing the incredible work that they do.

-James

A short video showing a small slice of the work Challenge Aspen does

Iceland - land of the Blue Lagoon, endless waterfalls, geysers, ice caves, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields and…
the 2017 Reykjavik Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K Events – August 19, 2017! 

The Challenge Aspen Marathon Team runs a marathon each year to help fund scholarships, adaptive equipment and programming for Challenge Aspen. This year we're headed to exotic Reykjavik, Iceland!

All racers have committed to fundraise $3,950 each for Challenge Aspen programs (donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law).  Thank you for supporting Challenge Aspen and making possibilities for people with disabilities!