Warrior Way 5K

We are honored to share that the recipient of this year’s Warrior Way 5K is a very special little warrior named Aspen and her family!❤️

Our mission with the Warrior Way has always been to come together as a community  to encourage, uplift, and support those going through challenges. Aspen’s journey is one of strength and love, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to rally behind her and help provide support.

Aspen’s story:

Aspen was born seemingly healthy, a 7 pound 12 ounce beautiful girl. She slept a lot but we were told she just had a traumatic entrance (c section) and needed some time to recoup. I had a mom gut feeling something was right but she was my first baby and I didn't know what I was doing. As a baby she slept a lot. Like a LOT and wouldn't wake up to feed. This got her put in a failure to thrive category. We were supplementing with everything we could and she still was either just not waking up or losing weight. She got down to 5 pounds and that's when doctors decided to place an NG tube in her nose so we could feed her even when she was sleeping. I pushed and pushed her pediatrician for further testing, that mom gut feeling just wouldn't let up. They originally told us muscular dystrophy and sent us to a neurologist who disagreed. She did a full genetic panel when Aspen was 2 months old and that's when it came back that she was missing a very large portion of her 14th chromosome, chromosome 14q32.2-32.33 deletion syndrome. She is 1 of 13 known cases in the world, hers being the largest deletion documented.  With her condition being ultra rare, there's not much we know or can expect. She follows a neurologist for known seizures, a gastroenterologist and requires a g tube for feeding, nephrology, cardiology, physiatry, urology, an ENT, amongst several other specialists. She receives therapy services 3/5 days a week. She uses braces to walk because her legs aren't as strong as they should be and was just diagnosed with a sub-mucous cleft palate that will require reconstructive surgery in January. She has made giant leaps in her progress, after once being told she would never ambulate or talk but still has lots of growth to go. We hope to be able to give her all the things to help her be as successful as possible!

RACE DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

6:30am – Race Day Packet Pick-up

8:30am – Kids Fun Run

9:00am – Competitive 5k Run

Race Day Packet Pickup

- Saturday, April 112026 – 6:30-8:30am at the race site

AWARDS

5K awards will be given as follows:

Overall Male & Female winner of 5K

Overall under 18 winner of the fun run

*Age Groups are top male & top female runners in each age group:  1-8; 9-12; 13-15, 16-19, 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80+

Awards will be available on-site after the race.