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Hope on the Slopes is a ski and snowboarding event held at venues nationwide to fight cancer. “We participate as Team Nick Strong in honor of our son, Nick, who was diagnosed with ocular melanoma,” said his mother, Sherrie. “Four and a half years ago, Nick heard the words, 'You have cancer.' At 20 years old, his young life changed in a heartbeat.”
“Hope on the Slopes is a small way for us to give back to the greater community and the work of the American Cancer Society," added his father, Larry Ruschmeyer. "Nick is the inspiration behind our work and involvement. Being a part of this event enables us as a family to stay involved. It continues to amaze me how many people Nick has touched and continue to pray for him.”
According to Sherrie, the idea is similar to Relay for Life. Larry and Sherrie’s only request of the ACS was that all of the funds they raise go to fight ocular melanoma. Last year, Team Nick Strong beat out 20 other teams to raise over $6,000. The event as a whole raised over $30,000 for the ACS. More importantly, "Team Nick Strong also won the Hope Cup, awarded to the team demonstrating the most team spirit and camaraderie," added Sherrie.
The day of the event, all skiers arrive in the morning and are given a Flaik tracker. The tracker monitors how many vertical miles each individual skis or rides, and the team with the most wins an award at the end of the day. New England Landscape & Management sponsors Team Nick Strong with matching T-shirts and prizes. Larry, Sherrie, their daughter Nicole and son Cody also ski as part of the team.
In the past, Team Nick Strong has received donations from businesses including Carroll Construction Corp. of Ridgefield, Montanari Fuel Services Inc. of Ridgefield, The Congregational Church of Brookfield, The Bar & Grille on 7 of Ridgefield, The Early Bird Café of Ridgefield, Ridgefield Lawns of Ridgefield and Chameleon Media of Bethel.
If you would like to donate to Team Nick Strong, mail a check to ACS c/o New England Landscape & Management Inc., P.O. Box 1066, Ridgefield, CT 06877 or visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/CommunityFundraisingPages/RFLCY15NE?team_id=1765699&pg=team&fr_id=68615.
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