11-year-old Make-A-Wish Oregon ambassador to host Ski-A-Thon at Mt. Bachelor
Kelsey Merison
Update: KTVZ’s Claire Elmer is speaking with Holden and his parents to learn more about the upcoming event. Stay tuned for her full report tonight on KTVZ News.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Skiers and snowboarders will gather at Mt. Bachelor on Sunday, March 8th, for the inaugural ‘Runs for Wishes’ Ski-A-Thon. The fundraiser was spearheaded by 11-year-old Holden, a Make-A-Wish Oregon ambassador.
The fundraiser will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to benefit Make-A-Wish Oregon.
Participants will collect pledges for each run they complete during the day. The Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation is supporting the fundraiser, which aims to provide resources for children facing critical illnesses.
Holden is an avid ski racer who trains with the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation as part of the Mini World Cup program. Following a diagnosis of a nervous system disorder, Holden requested a wish to attend the X Games at Aspen Snowmass. He said the experience exceeded his expectations.
Photo credit: Dave Camara / X Games
“My wish was epic,” Holden said. “My mom, dad and I were X Games VIPs! We loaded on a snowcat for a behind-the-scenes tour, got to meet Olympic Gold Medal Winner Alex Hall and hand out medals on the podium. I felt like I was on top of the world!”
All proceeds from the fundraiser will support Oregon wish kids and their families. Holden will be joined on the mountain by his teammates from the foundation and APEX FX. Friends from Seven Peaks School also plan to participate in the event.
According to Make-A-Wish Oregon, there are currently more than 300 children in the state waiting for their wishes to be granted. Holden said he hopes the Bend community will help turn those dreams into reality.
“There are more than 300 kids like me in Oregon who are waiting for their wish to come true,” Holden said. “Together, I hope we can all change that.”
The event will be located at the base of the hotwalk near the West Village Lodge and West Village parking lot. Participants are responsible for the cost of their own lift tickets. Community members can sign up or donate through the Make-A-Wish Oregon website.
A group photo for all participants is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the day of the event. Participants will make their direct donations to Holden’s Make-A-Wish page at the conclusion of the ski-a-thon.