Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 23: Carry a Bead in Colorado

I made it to Colorado today! Here in Colorado there are four member hospitals: Children’s Hospital Colorado, Memorial Hospital for Children, and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center. 

Today, I met with one of the first people that participated with our Carry a Bead program! Soley has been a strong supporter of Beads of Courage from the beginning, and she has been carrying beads for years.

Soley has carried beads all over the world, from Mexico to Iceland! Soley’s family has also carried beads through hockey and lacrosse seasons. Her hockey organization carried over 100 beads to encourage our members with cancer and other serious illnesses. Both the hockey and lacrosse teams carry beads during their practices and games as a reminder to give it their all, and know that they are playing for more than themselves. When the teams return their beads, some of them actually go to the hospitals and talk to some of our members:

“Last year our lacrosse team met a patient who also played lacrosse, they ended up playing board games and talking lacrosse. It seems to lift the spirits of the kids in the hospital to have visitors, and it gives the players a great perspective and reminder of why they carry the beads.”

Thanks Soley for sharing your story with me, and for Making Courage Roar! Support Beads of Courage and our programs by funding the mission during the 9^th Annual Bead Challenge!

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage