COSMB Cares: Climb for Courage and Other Summer Charitable Events

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Colorado Springs Moms Blog cares deeply about our community. To that end, we are running monthly series called "COSMB Cares." In these posts, we will highlight a national or international cause and one or more of the local organizations working to improve that situation. This sixth installment of "COSMB Cares" highlights a various charitable events happening this summer. Events like "Climb for Courage," which will raise money for the new Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs.

Seeking opportunities for you and your children to give back to our community this summer? Look no further. Colorado Springs Moms Blog has assembled a list of fun charitable events that will be fun for your family and help a great cause in the process. First up: Climb for Courage, an event to help raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Why Children’s Hospital? 

If you’re reading this post, you have children. And children require doctors and nurses and hospitals. If you’re lucky, those doctor visits are for routine checkups and for coughs and sniffles.

But what if they’re not?

What if your little one needs emergency or specialty care? Where do you (or would you) go?

Children’s Hospital Colorado is expanding its pediatric health system in southern Colorado. That includes building a new Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs, set to open in late Spring 2019.
This will be the only hospital dedicated solely to children in southern Colorado. And it will be home to a pediatric emergency room and surgery suites build exclusively for kids.

Climb for Courage Details:

  • Sat. June 23
  • 8:30 a.m.- Full-stadium race starts. It is the only stair climb race in the region (2,700 steps) and takes place at U.S. Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium.
  • 9 a.m. – Family Festival begins, complete with games, activities, food and fun. It’s open to the public and free, thanks to corporate and community partners. You don’t have to climb to attend this event.
  • 10 a.m. – The Fun Climb takes place in the lower portion of Falcon Stadium and is perfect for kids and families. It is not timed and starts after the timed race. Most participants complete this event in 15-30 minutes, depending on age and skill level.
  • Register as an individual or as part of a team. Registration fees are as follows: $35 for adults. $20 Youth 18 and under. Kids 12 and under may do the Fun Climb for free when a parent or guardian registers for either event. Organizers are asking adults to raise (or donate) a minimum of $50 in addition to the registration fee. 

What to Expect

The past two years, about 600 people have participated. Children’s Hospital Foundation expects at least that many people this year and hopes to raise $200,000.  

“The event is so much fun,” said Jenny Stafford, philanthropy director for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, Colorado Springs. “You can really make it whatever you want it to be.”

Some people show up in tutus, wear silly socks or paint their faces, she said. Others are serious climbers. Anything goes—it’s all for a great cause. Not able to climb? Sign up to volunteer. They’re still looking for help with set up on Friday, June 22, as well as with the race itself and tear down on Saturday. Out of town or out of commission? Choose the “virtual climber” option. Raise a bit of money, but skip the climb. 

Or… Just show up and enjoy the free festival—inflatables, the Zoo Mobile, food and more. 

Register online through Thurs, July 21; at Colorado Running Company from 3:30-6:30 pm on Friday; or even at Falcon Stadium the day of the race. 

All money raised during this annual Children’s Hospital Foundation event stays in southern Colorado. This year’s funds will help finish construction of the 294,000-square-foot hospital and outfit it with equipment. Future money might be used to help with ongoing expenses.

Life-Changing

One of my own children was born at just over 1 ½ pounds and has required an incredible team of experts over the years to thrive.

Logistics have challenged us. We have been on long waiting lists for different therapies, locally, and travel to Denver for the big stuff. That means missing school, unpredictable traffic and arranging before or after school childcare for our other kiddo. 

Having a Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs will be life changing for our family and countless others in the region. The first year Children’s offered outpatient care in Colorado Springs, kids paid them about 25,000 visits. Since then, that number has quadrupled. Still, many families must travel an hour north for specialty care. 

Once the new Colorado Springs hospital opens, only a few situations such as serious burns and transplants would require a trip to Denver, Stafford said. The hope is that our local hospital should be able to treat about 95 percent of the region’s pediatric cases with “a staff that lives here and works here,” Stafford said. 

Other Charitable Events this Summer

June

Fundraiser: Happy Tails Happy Hour

  • Thursday, June 28 from 3- 7 pm
  • Whistle Pig Brewing Company
  • 1840 Dominion Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
  • Drink a beer for a great cause! Happy Tails Happy Hours are happening at local breweries throughout the summer and $1 of each beer sold goes to the homeless pets at Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. Plus, 2018 collectible pint glasses will be available for $10 each. 

Bluegrass, Brews & Brats

  • Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 5-9 pm
  • Manitou Springs Memorial Hall
  • Cost: $20/person; includes beer from 4 local craft breweries and choice of brats, burgers or dogs PLUS 1 free entry into “basic” drawing. Wine and soft drinks, also available (additional food/drink available for donation).
  • Special Kids Special Families invites you to participate in its annual BBB – Bluegrass, Brews & Brats fundraising event as a sponsor, guest or donor. Enjoy local bluegrass bands – Acme Bluegrass Band and WireWood Station, brew tastings, great food and socialize with friends. Come have some fun all for a great cause. Proceeds help support programming for children and adults with disabilities.

Purely Ponds Parade of Ponds

  • June 23rd and 24th 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Tour spots throughout Colorado Springs and surrounding areas
  • A self-guided pond and waterfall tour to benefit Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado Springs area 

Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast  

  • June 20 from 5:30-9 a.m.
  • Benefits military and families,
  • Pikes Peak Avenue and Tejon Street

Angel Run 5K 

  • June 23 at 8:30 a.m.  
  • Benefits Break the Silence against Domestic Violence
  • America the Beautiful Park, 126 Cimino Drive. 

Painting with a Purpose 

  • June 24 from 2-4 p.m.
  • Benefits PILLAR 
  • Painting with a Twist, 1025 Garden of the Gods Road, Suite A. 

Going for the Green Golf Classic

  • June 25 at 7:30 a.m.
  • Benefits Colorado Institute for Social Impact and the Air Academy Federal Credit Union Foundation
  • Country Club of Colorado at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 125 Clubhouse Drive.

Putts Fore Paws

  • June 28 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Benefits Teller County Regional Animal Shelter
  • Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Course, 2304 Cadet Drive. 

Moonlight on the Mountain

  • June 28 from 6-10 p.m.
  • Benefits Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road. Reservations: 633-9925 or click link above. 

July

Tails, Tunes & Tastes

  • July 26th and August 30th 6-9:30 p.m.
  • 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road
  • Adult only music nights to benefit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo featuring drinks and international delights from Taste, the in-house caterer and local musicians. Reservations: 633-9925.

Ranch Horse Round Up – Healing Our Military

  • July 28 and 29, all weekend
  • Kit Carson Riding Club, 6775 Cowpoke Road
  • A concert, silent auction and BBQ to benefit Home Front Cares, YMCA/Camp Shady Brook and Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center.

Pikes Peak Special Rodeo

  • July 7 from 9 a.m.-noon
  • Benefits Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center and Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center
  • ProRodeo Hall of Fame, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive

Marigreen Pines Estate Tour

  • July 14 and 15
  • Benefits the Ute Pass Historical Society, Cascade. Advance tickets: 686-7512.

Off the Street Breakfast

  • July 19 from 7-8:30 a.m.
  • Benefits Urban Peak
  • Under the Colorado Avenue Bridge, 218 W. Colorado Ave. 

ADA Celebration Luncheon – Celebrating Veterans with Disabilities

  • July 26 from 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Hotel Elegante, 2886 S. Circle Drive. 

Friends of Mueller State Park Fine Art Show and Sale

  • July 28 and 29 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 28 and 29
  • Mueller State Park Visitor Center, 21045 Colorado 67, Divide.
  • Day pass $7 per vehicle; 687-2366

August

Benefit Show and Concert at Hillside Gardens and Events Center

  • Aug. 23rd 6-10 pm
  • 1006 S. Institute Ave.
  • Proceeds will benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Alliance.

Do you know of other charitable events this summer? Please give us the details in the comments below. Check out other COSMB Cares posts here

Ashley

About Ashley

Ashley is a wife, mom to two young boys and former reporter. She has moved a couple of dozen times, but she and her family built a house in Colorado Springs in 2013 and plan to stay. Ashley spends her free time writing, traveling and volunteering for the PTO.
Adrienne

About Adrienne

Adrienne is a Colorado native and would not want to live anywhere else! She spends her days juggling the many demands of three teen boys and a preschooler. When she is not busy deciphering the perplexing teen boy brain, or trying to please her diva daughter, you will most likely find her nose in a book. She is passionate about coordinating a local MOPS group (Mother’s of Preschoolers) and in encouraging other moms. She also loves finding great happy hour places with her husband, Shawn, and acting young and sometimes crazy with friends! She does not spend enough time outdoors (unless forced to) and comes up with any excuse to put off cleaning her chaotic house. She is very grateful for her completely imperfect life.