Greetings from the Steamboat Ski Patrol and The Cody St. John Foundation. We’re more excited every year to announce the annual Cody’s Challenge Randonee Ski Race on Mt Werner in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Cody’s Challenge was featured in the November 2010 issue of Powder magazine, highlighting the spirit that surrounds this event amidst the increased popularity of Randonee races held throughout the Rockies.
The Cody St. John Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, was established to honor the life and legacy of a young man who touched many lives. Cody St. John, a passionate Steamboat Ski Patroller, was honored as the 2006 ‘Colorado Ski Country USA Patroller of the Year.’ At age 28, he was the youngest person and only snowboarder to ever receive this prestigious award. Cody tragically passed away on Easter Sunday of 2007 due to injuries sustained in a car accident, while traveling to the University of Wyoming to attend his nursing school orientation.
Since his passing, we have established The Cody St. John Foundation as the only non-profit organization that is working to benefit Professional Ski Patrollers. By awarding scholarships for continuing medical education, we aim to better equip Ski Patrollers everywhere in their mission to provide top-notch emergency medical care on their local mountain.
The Cody St. John Foundation continues to succeed in our mission of awarding scholarships to qualified professional ski patrollers to further their medical education. Each year we are committed to awarding five scholarships for medical education. The Scholarship Recipients are publicly announced at our post-race lunch and Awards Ceremony. The Professional Ski Patrollers selected each year all bring a similar degree of passion and commitment to serving others on their respective local mountain, as Cody did in Steamboat.
By supporting Cody’s Challenge, you are making it possible for us to accomplish two very important goals:
- Facilitating the continuing education and training for Ski Patrollers nationwide and,
- Increasing the general public’s awareness of the importance for organ donation.
Both of these goals symbolize Cody’s legacy as he not only rescued people on the mountain, but also made the personal choice to be an organ donor. After meeting Cody’s organ recipients, we now very clearly understand the true impact organ donors have in saving lives and we are proud to champion that cause!
With your generous support this event has the power to save lives.
We hope to hear from you and see you in Ski Town USA!
Warmest Wishes,
The Cody St. John Foundation