On March 23 at the Bank of Colorado Arena, the Frank Gale Faith Not Fear (FGFNF) organization and the University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehabilitation Center hosted the second annual Northern Colorado Ninja Warriors Event.
“This was kind of the event [for the] UNC cancer rehab to get all of the cancer survivors together [to] do something fun and positive,” said Kaye Firestone, the widowed wife of Frank Gale.
Firestone founded the nonprofit organization in honor of her late husband, who battled cancer for eight years.
“People start overcoming their challenges [and] that was part of my husband’s dream,” she said. “He was always positive."
Over 15 sponsors attended the event, with many of them participating in the obstacle course which was aimed to raise money for the UNC Cancer Rehabilitation Center. Every team of runners consisted of four individuals who each ran through a section of the obstacle course on their own. The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center was in attendance but not participating in the races.
The race began with a tough crawl through netting, followed with a race through the first bouncy house, ending with a steep climb and a sliding finish. The next runner weaved through five basketballs placed on the ground by using a wheeled cart. The runner would then use those basketballs to attempt to shoot five baskets. If more than two baskets were missed, the participant would be punished with 10 pushups. The next course was a balance section, where the next runner balanced on not just a beam, but a series of yoga balls. Once again, if the runner failed to complete the course properly, they were punished with push-ups.
Taking over, the third teammate had to spin in 10 circles then attempt to shoot five tennis balls into a small net before moving onto throwing five footballs into a small opening. The final runner had to run through the second bounce house and meet their teammates at the end. The entire team, pushing their last teammate on a bicycle, had to cross the finish line together.
The top four teams with the best and lowest times, moved onto the final four. The team that won the competition was the previous year’s winner.
“I work for Hope Lives,” said Laura Hickey,a member if Hope Lives. “I’ve known of them for years. They’ve been around for 20 years now.”
Although Hickey has no personal connection to cancer, she brings her support to the event.
“I just love it,” she said. “I love supporting our community and seeing our community come together to support people that really need help.”
Not everyone at the event was part of the sponsors.
Daysha Bullocks, the assistant marketing director for UNC Athletics, had a more personal reason for attending.
“My mom had breast cancer last year, and she was really tough,” she said. “She was able to beat cancer. So, anytime that I can help out in any type of way as it relates to being a resource, playing music, creating funding or just allowing people to come and donate their time [and] money to this, it’s something I’m really passionate about.”
Even though every team was there in support of a close friend or family member battling cancer, some were really into the competition.
“We were going against another vet clinic,” said Emmarie Miles, a runner for the Sheep Draw Veterinary Hospital. “So, we wanted a better entrance than them. We wanted to beat them.”
Even though the event brought competition and fun to those participating, the main goal was to raise money for the UNC Cancer Rehabilitation Center.
“We have such a phenomenal asset here at UNC." said Firestone. "We're cutting edge in our nation. We're number one, and no one knows about us and to have this gift here at UNC is so precious. So, it's just to get the word out to all cancer patients who are going through the struggles of cancer, and bring them back to life.”
With more then $91,000 already raised and more to come, the FGFNF and UNC Cancer Rehabilitation center already made more than double then the first year. Firestone is more than hopeful.
As serious as cancer is, this event united cancer survivors in a showing of support and unity.
“That’s our job,” said Firestone. “To regain the strength of all cancer patients.”
