My 34 year old daughter was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma in April 2016. The rest of 2016 was focused on surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy for Kristi, and care giving for Kristi and her family (2 boys aged 10 and 5 and husband Ben). We have accepted that the future with this diagnosis is a journey and we embrace every opportunity to support Kristi’s immediate and long-term needs.

As a part of this journey we are ready in 2017 to support the larger brain cancer community. Our family has always been very active (hiking, biking, snowshoeing, running, etc) and even though Kristi is sidetracked for the time being, my husband and I want to carry on and participate in physical outdoor activities this year with a specific purpose and result of supporting brain cancer awareness and research.

I am doing this trek first and foremost for Kristi, and also for my Mom who is a breast, uterine, brain, and colon cancer survivor. These two women have shown me the true meaning of strength, endurance, and stamina.