We met Hunter at the 2017 Aspen Winter Games. Still on active chemotherapy at the time, battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hunter was nervous about coming to Aspen.
Diagnosed only 3 months before the trip, she had lost all of her hair and recent life had been a blur of hospital visits and medication. Despite living in Colorado, she had never skied before in her life! She just wasn’t sure what to expect. When she arrived in Aspen, her nerves quickly melted away.
Hunter went from never skiing to shredding Buttermilk Mountain, top to bottom, in no time. We loved watching Hunter blossom throughout the week. She made friends, hit the dance floor at disco night and remembered what it was like to be a “normal” teenager again.
For the past 3 years since her trip to Aspen, Hunter has attended a number of Shining Stars programs with her entire family. We have loved watching Hunter grow into the amazing young woman she is today!
”Thank you to Shining Stars for making me feel loved and normal. For becoming my family for a little while. For making me feel like a normal child and not just some sick kid in this world. I'm so very grateful for that experience.” -Hunter
