Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Cyclists raise funds for medical travel for Southwest Colo. kids

Courage Classic race has raised more than $32M in first 24 years
JT Zink, 7, center, celebrates riding 28 miles on his bicycle in the Courage Classic in Summit County in 2013, along with Durango Derailers team captain Dr. Kelly Miller, from Pediatric Partners of the Southwest, and Les Lee, philanthropy director with Children’s Hospital Colorado. JT’s life was saved at the hospital. He’s the son of Shana and Brian Zink. The team is gearing up to ride again this year, to raise money to help local families travel to Denver for medical care for their children.

Local cyclists ride for speed and bragging rights, fun and exercise – and, in the case of one group, to raise money for a good cause.

Anyone who has had to travel for medical care knows it’s not just the medical bills that are costly; the hotel rooms, meals and gas can add up. And if you’re traveling to get care for a sick child, those expenses should be the last thing on your mind.

Since 2006, local cyclists and noncyclists have been supporting pediatrician Dr. Kelly Miller and her Durango Derailers Courage Classic Bicycle Team as they raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Since 2012, they’ve been helping local families with the expenses entailed in traveling to Denver for medical treatment.

This year, at the 25th anniversary of the Courage Classic, which will be held July 19-21 in Summit, Eagle and Lake counties, they’re planning to do it again.

In 2013 – the first full year of operation of the family-assistance fund – they learned the need was great:

Seventy-four children from Southwest Colorado were admitted to Children’s Hospital Colorado, spending a total of 891 days as inpatients.

Local children racked up another 1,422 clinic visits as outpatients at the hospital’s clinics.

Even more visited the specialty outreach clinic in the Durango area for genetics, cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, neurology, diabetes and rehabilitation.

The Derailers fund helped 362 families with food, transportation and lodging assistance in the same time period – to the tune of $63,643.

The Courage Classic, which is based at Copper Mountain, has raised more than $32 million for Children’s Hospital in its first 24 years. The money has helped pay for new medical equipment, support new research and maintain the Hospital Sports Program for children with disabilities.

Many of the teams include former and current Children’s Hospital Colorado patients and their families. The Durango Derailers team last year included JT Zink, 7, his dad, Brian Zink, and grandparents Ed and Patti Zink. JT survived a rare form of pneumococcal meningitis as a baby because of the care he received at Children’s Hospital.

Visit www.durangoderailers.com or www.couragetours.com to learn more and donate.



Reader Comments