Support Michael Blanton’s journey thru cancer

Dear friends of ours and friends of Michael Blanton,

 

Our loving friend Michael Blanton - who lives in Placerville, CO and has been a part of the Telluride and Telski community for 30 years - was recently diagnosed with stage 3b colorectal cancer. This Gofund Me has been started to give an opportunity to those who love Michael to help maintain the quality of his life by removing some of the financial burden of cancer. Please read below and kindly contribute, if you’re moved to do so. We appreciate you and your love for Michael.

 

Michael is fighting hard for his future and intends to be with his wife, Anna, and his strong, courageous and beautiful, 9 year old daughter, Harper, as she grows, graduates and launches into her own destiny. If you know Michael (Spicky to many of us), you understand how strongly he is fighting for this goal.

 

Michael received this daunting diagnosis just as he was gearing up for another winter season working on snow as an instructor with Telluride Ski Resort – as he has for the past 29 years. While there is never a “good time” for cancer, this diagnosis packed a double-punch because it came during a shoulder/off season and that compounded into a substantial financial challenge, as well. Although Michael worked as much as he could before treatments started, adjusted the family finances and met deductibles quickly, the New Year reset all the deductibles and with surgery, the daily radiation and chemo treatments in Montrose and side effects, scheduling and performing the physical demands of a snowboard instructing job has been difficult and at times impossible. Consequently, he and his family are facing an emotionally difficult and financially distressing time.

 

These are real, worst-case life and financial scenarios that no one wants to talk about, and that Michael is presently living. Michael, however, lives with a passion that is worth the support of the far-and-wide friends from whom he derives strength and solace, the Telluride community in which he has been wholly-invested and the Telski work-world that he has been a part of for thirty years, the Mackinac Island community that he cherishes with every revisit, along with many other friends around the globe.

 

His story is below in his own words.

 

Much love,

 

JW & Tracie Amend, Tim McCleery, Lynn Holbert, Bart Huthwaite, Dan Kreft, Hillary & Carson Taylor

 

By Michael:

 

My story: I am an outdoor enthusiast and love sharing my passion for snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, fly-fishing, rock climbing and other random activities in the mountains. If you have spent time with me you know how excited I get for these adventures. It has been so fun to share these adventures with friends, family and clients. Harper especially enjoys them. :)

 

My family: I am very fortunate to be married to my beautiful wife Anna, who is amazingly strong and courageous! My pride and joy is my 9 year old daughter, Harper. She is equally as strong, courageous and beautiful as her mother. They have been so supportive and resilient through these challenging times of uncertainty. I am so lucky!

 

My work: I became involved with The Telluride Ski School in November 1993. Yes, next November will begin my 30th year working with Telluride Ski and Golf. In my time with the Ski School it has been a pleasure to help those with a true appreciation for our community and that want to become a part of it. It has been so cool to see these people start families and raise their children in such a magnificent place with amazing people. The tiny children that I met when I first came here are now adults living their dreams. It is great to run into them, somehow they still remember me. I guess memory loss is just for old guys like me. :)

 

Our community: Over the years we have all seen dear friends pass away. Always too early in my opinion. I miss them every day. We have rallied around those families giving love and support however we can. I have always felt very fortunate to be able to help friends whenever I could, especially during rough times. And I hope to be able to continue to help others, after I get through this. We have shared smiles, laughs and tears with some of the greatest people on this planet. I feel very fortunate for my journey; I have lived a blessed life in this community.

 

How to help: All of our friends and family have offered help, but we haven’t known what kind of help we would need. We have a better idea now. Our circle of friends has helped with meals, transportation, childcare and overall love and support. They continue to be there for us. We are so thankful!

 

Love: Love is the is the most priceless gift that we can ask for, and we are so fortunate to receive so much of it. We will always take as many hugs as we can get!

 

Friends: Friends have also offered financial help and suggested that we create a way for others to help this way, if they so choose. I have to be honest, it is very humbling and difficult to even write this in efforts to organize this. Those of who truly know me understand that I am all about a simple quality of life. To quote Spicoli, “a cool buzz, some tasty waves, and I’m fine.”

 

It has taken me awhile to accept the fact that friends can, and want to help out however they can. Unfortunately, the amount of possible accumulating debt is unknown at this time. Any financial help would be used for medical bills and ancillary costs as to not leave my family with overwhelming debt if the unspeakable were to happen. After consulting with friends and family, we decided to set a goal of $50,000. Like I stated above, love is all we want and need. But, if you feel compelled to help with our finances, it is appreciated with love and humility.

 

Thank you for being a friend. :)