Shining Stars is a local nonprofit founded in 2001 and provides a trip to Aspen for children and their families challenged with pediatric cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Throughout the week the Stars participate in many different activities such as skiing, snowboarding, mono skiing, dancing, a talent show and so much more. This year, volunteers from all over the US, including Aspen students -some who have been volunteers for more than eight years- welcomed the Stars on Friday, February 28.

Landon Kiker a Junior at AHS has been volunteering for seven years.

“Shining stars, for me, is a place where I can make new friends and make them feel like everything is okay. Our job as high school buddies is to try to make these kids that have life-threatening illnesses have the best week possible. It’s really special to see kids come from all over, not knowing how to ski or who have never seen snow before, and by the end of the week, they are flying down the mountain and having new friends that have gone through the same things they have. It is truly a special experience to remember and I will always look back on.” Kiker said

The travel, activities, and hotel are free for the Stars because families are already spending enough money on treatment. This is possible through generous donations and fundraising in the valley.

“Aspen has been a huge part in this program with The Inn at Aspen letting 80 kids run around the hotel and stay there having, ski instructors teaching kids how to ski, putting up banners in town, and having fundraisers for the Shining Stars, like bake sales at the Aspen High School that the Shining Stars Club puts together,” Kiker says.

The well attended week is filled with up to 80 Stars, but you will never come across one that’s the same. Liara Aber, a high school senior in Champaign, Illinois, was a part of this year’s 2020 Shining Stars. In 2019, Aber was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Aber is now 4 months in remission.

“Shining Stars has given me a place where I felt truly wanted. At home, I always felt like people didn’t understand what I was going through, and people would talk to me and ask me questions out of pity. Here, everyone has had cancer, so when someone comes up to you to ask questions, you know they’re being genuine and really want to get to know you,” Aber said

The volunteers get the privilege of meeting many great people during the week of Shining Stars and having long-lasting friendships. Lupita Ortiz, a junior at AHS, has volunteered for four years now and will be president of the Shining Stars Club next year.

“Shining Stars is about making lifelong friendships for me. I have had many loved ones pass away from cancer throughout my life. Shining Stars brings awareness and hope to children who suffer from these terrible illnesses. Friendships flourish throughout the week that I volunteer, along with other volunteers. The Stars and Aspen student volunteers come into one another’s life and share stories about both the good and the bad. We encourage one another and love each other,” Ortiz said

When becoming a student volunteer you need to do one main thing and that’s to make the stars enjoy themselves. By allowing them to have the childhood they never had because treatments and hospital visits took over that time.

“The kids are going through life-threatening illnesses, but they are still teenage kids who want to have fun,” Ortiz said

Stars want to be treated with care with respect. Shining Star is a place for kids to get out of there hospital beds, meet people just like them, and have close friends and memories that last a lifetime.
“I’m always surprised again and again by the enthusiasm and skill every Star has within them,” Ortiz said