Skiing Event Raises Money For Flight For Life Nurse Injured In Copter Crash
ARAPAHOE BASIN, Colo. (CBS4) - For 10 hours without stopping teams of skiers and boarders hit the slopes at Arapahoe Basin for a good cause on Wednesday.
The Pali Enduro event was held to help flight nurse Dave Repsher who was critically injured in a Flight For Life crash last July in Frisco and still remains in a hospital.
This year marks the 27th year enduro teams tackled some of Colorado's steepest terrain. Thirty-five teams of two took laps up the Pallavicini (Pali) chair and either skied or rode down the mountain on designated lines from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. without stopping.
For many of the participants this year, they know the man they are raising money for personally.
"It's an honor for us to be able to help him out this way today," a participant said.
For Repsher's friends and coworkers, the unique fundraiser had an extra special meaning this year.
"Dave has really been through the ringer this past year, and anything that we can do to help him and his family, we are here to do it," said Mary Henrikson, Centura Health CCO.
As a Flight For Life nurse Repsher routinely worked alongside many at A-Basin.
"I know that he has his ups and downs. Hopefully now it's more ups than it is downs," Henrikson said.
When organizers were trying to figure out who this year's event would benefit it was unanimous.
"Summit County has a wonderful reputation of taking care of its own, and this is just an example of that," Henrikson said.
The funds raised will help Repsher and his family on his long road to recovery. The event also seems to help his friends to heal as well.
Repsher continues to fight in a Denver area hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
