On Sunday, January 11, about 250 people raced up Buttermilk Mountain in the 11^th annual Hike for Hope. The goal of the Hike for Hope race is to raise funds in order to find a cure for muscular dystrophy. All the proceeds are sent directly to varying research entities. The race is put on entirely by Aspen’s own Sharp family, whose son Ian was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy ten years ago, and many volunteers. Including hikers and volunteers, this year’s race hosted from 320-340 people.

“I have done the Hike for Hope for the past five years. I continue to participate every year because it is such an incredible cause. I am more than happy to support the Sharp family and every other family affected by muscular dystrophy,” AHS junior Kim Sandbach said.

The hike itself is just a small piece of the Sharps’ foundation, The Hike for Hope Foundation. The foundation receives donations through their donation campaigns. Each year, the hike raises about $6,000 while over the course of the year the foundation receives around $65,000. Donors range from Aspen families to Aspen businesses such as the Elk Club and the Thrift Shop.

“The event itself doesn’t bring in that much funds,” Ian’s mother, Carole Sharp said. “The hike is a community event that we put on for all the loving teachers and kids. Even Ian hikes in it, which is amazing.”

Originally Sharp envisioned this event to get bigger and bigger every year. Before the first Hike for Hope, the family held a silent auction and advertised in a parade, but now they have realized that time spent together as a family is the most important thing.

“We decided that we want to live with Ian and not just focus on getting a cure because then you don’t get to enjoy your son,” Sharp said

Every cent that is donated to the Hike for Hope foundation will go directly to researching a cure for the horrible disease that is muscular dystrophy. Because of the Hike for Hope foundation and other groups like it, the MD-CARE Act was passed. The MD-CARE-Act brought muscular dystrophy from the lowest funded disease to the middle. Before the act was passed this past September, muscular dystrophy research only received 17 million dollars in funding from the government; now it receives 79 million.

“Ian is the poster boy for this disease. He is a rock star. They [the doctors] told us don’t let him ski, don’t let him jump, and we said no way. He is going to do anything and everything he can,” Sharp said. “Unfortunately as of now the only thing doctors have are steroids, but that 79 million is just going to pop everyone into it.”

The Sharp family wishes to thank each and every community member for their kindness and support. The Hike for Hope is an amazing cause that will continue helping the millions affected by muscular dystrophy.