Songwriter Shuffle

DEAN DILLON & FRIENDS WITH SPECIAL GUEST

FOOD FEATURING:

Pete Mikelson - The Almont Resort

Rob Zack- Elk Avenue Hospitality

Al Sedaghat - Bruhaus

Cody Penton - Wooden Nickel & Elk Ave Prime

Alyssa Atzenbeck - Cake Me Away

TESTIMONIALS

"As a mom of two young boys, juggling work, school schedules, kids' hockey seasons, and the mental, emotional, and financial challenges of being a single mom, I had managed to let 4 years go by without a mammogram. And I almost didn't schedule the suggested ultrasound follow-up that detected my breast cancer. In a blink, my life halted, and my cancer diagnosis now consumed my time and energy. So many appointments, tests and so much information to digest. Waiting for test results was excruciating. Time seemed to slow down and move incredibly fast at the same time. Fear and uncertainty overwhelmed me. Children, work, insurance, bills, my home, medical expenses, time… My mind was spinning and I needed support.

My dear friends stepped in and connected me with Lana and Gunnison Tough. I was only a couple of weeks into my bilateral mastectomy recovery when a simple phone call helped change the trajectory of my journey. I didn't know how to ask for support, and Lana stepped in with kindness and compassion. In just one phone call, Gunnison Tough offered massages to help manage my stress and post-surgery aches and pains and provided immediate financial assistance to help with bills while I was unable to work. Not having to carry financial stress while tackling the challenges of a destabilizing cancer diagnosis is a gift beyond measure. And that was just the beginning.

Through Lana and all the supporters of Gunnison Tough, I received the best gift ever this past holiday season- the gift of time and adventure with my kids. Appointments, procedures, surgery and having to temporarily relocate for surgery have made it more difficult to spend time with my sons. And time is the greatest gift. I mentioned to Lana that my boys love hockey and wanted to go to a Colorado Avalanche game. Lana stepped in and made it all happen. We laughed, celebrated, and created lasting memories. This time together allowed us all to take a break from the weight of my cancer diagnosis.

I am still in the thick of my cancer journey and so grateful to have Gunnison Tough supporting me and my children every step of the way. I will once again need to relocate temporarily for my next surgery and Gunnison Tough is helping me with vehicle for transportation, travel expenses for myself and my caregiver, and lift recliner rental. Thank you Lana and all the supporters of Gunnison Tough. I can stay strong and focused on my health and healing, knowing that I can easily access resources and support.

I am proud to be a part of the Gunnison Tough community!"

-Theresa Henry

"Last fall, our world got flipped upside down almost overnight. Phil was diagnosed with Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma, a one-in-a-million type of cancer. Being a young, seemingly healthy family, this diagnosis rocked our world, and Gunnison Tough was there for us every step of the way. From checking in to see how appointments were going, letting us know that the hotel would be covered, to offering a vehicle to get to appointments. Gunnison Tough has been more helpful than we could ever imagine. If Lana doesn't know the answer right away, she calls or sends emails to someone who might. We are so incredibly lucky to have resources like this in our valley. With two young children and a single-income household, with the help of Gunnison Tough, we have been able to keep the kids in activities that would otherwise cause financial strain. No one ever wants to be in this position, but it has truly shown us what is important and how much we value the community here in the Gunnison Valley. We cannot say thank you enough to the supporters of Gunnison Tough. You have helped our family an immense amount."

-The Ott Family

"My name in Audrey Anderson and I have anal cancer. In 2024 I became very I'll. I lost about 30 lbs over a two month period. My surgeon, Dr Lee, suggested that I needed a colonoscopy. I had been remiss in getting this exam scheduled because the prep is so burdensome and inconvenient. It just didn't fit into my active lifestyle. But I scheduled it, because I was not well and not getting any better. The day before the procedure, I continued the preparation. The final step was to drink the volumes of nasty liquid that would clean my colon out for the colonoscopy. I began to vomit profusely and ended up with emergency surgery for a bowel blockage and and ostomy instead of the colonoscopy. A few months later, Dr. Lee was able to do the colonoscopy. That's when my cancer was discovered. It was diagnosed as anal cancer caused by the HPV virus. I plunged into chemo and radiology as fast as possible. I suffered from radiation burns, lost my hair, and sever fatigue. So far, 8 months later, it appears the treatment has been successful. Time will tell. I've had 4 bowel obstruction in a year and a half and two emergency surgeries that saved my life. My abdomen has been pronounced "dangerous and complicated" with respect to additional surgery. I've developed a plethora of scar tissue and two large parastomal hernias that keep me designated a high risk situation for additional blockages. It is a situation that is frightening on a daily basis.  

That said, I am determined to live an active lifestyle - xc skiing and hiking a few times a week as I build back my strength.   

Throughout the past year, Gunnison Tough has been my dedicated cheerleader. Without the financial support, massage sessions the payments for lodging during chemo and radiation and the loving emotional support, my husband and I would have been bereft and probably destitute.   

On another note, my cancer is preventable today. There is a vaccine that can be given to people between the ages of 9 and 55 that will keep one safe from cancers caused by the HPV virus. Please ask your physician about it. No one needs to suffer from this type of cancer anymore."

-Audrey Anderson

"It sounds cliche but when I received the call that I had breast cancer the ground fell from beneath me. I had no idea what I was going to do. My friend, who had been diagnosed with cancer, helped me out. She immediately set me up with Lana from Gunnison Tough.

From that point on I felt like I had my own personal cancer assistant. Lana and the Gunnison Tough community thought of things that weren't on my radar. They helped and are continuing to help me navigate this diagnosis. Their care was personal and quick. When everything else was so murky and muddy, Gunnison Tough provided a clear path. They helped me through every step from diagnosis, treatment and surgery to survivorship.

Gunnison Tough continues to help with all of the challenges that I still face. With the vehicles, lodging, counseling for myself and my children, acupuncture, assistance with bills and many other benefits I was able to focus on my battle and recovery. I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for the kindness of Gunnison Tough and their sponsors. I am a multi-generational Gunnisonite and my father said that what makes this valley special is the people. That has never been as true to me as it is right now. Thank you Lana and the entire Gunnison Tough community."

-Liz Mick

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUNNISON TOUGH'S PROGRAMS

These events support Gunnison Tough and are critical to the funding of our programs in the Gunnison Valley. Funding from sponsorships and donations will be used directly for our many cancer support and detection programs, outlined below.

EARLY DETECTION & SUPPORT FOR LIFE SAVING SCREENINGS

Provide life saving cancer screenings for those who do not have insurance. Help to raise awareness around the importance of early screening for breast cancer. Gunnison Tough has ramped up our awareness campaign resulting in a 40% increase in the number of women getting their annual mammogram!

As more women choose to get their annual mammograms, demand for our financial assistance program has surged. This growth has increased requests for help covering the costs of screenings, ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies for uninsured or underinsured patients, ensuring more women can follow through with essential diagnostic care.

In 2025, Gunnison Tough helped support 120 uninsured or underinsured women with screening mammograms, diagnostic ultrasounds, MRI's, and biopsies. Totaling $47,600 worth of care.

Recently Gunnison Tough partnered with Gunnison Valley Health and Living Journeys to create a cancer screening fund. The fund was created to support individuals who may otherwise delay or forgo recommended cancer screenings due to financial constraints, helping remove obstacles to early diagnosis, when treatment is most effective. The Cancer Screening Access Fund provides up to $2,000 in support for eligible screenings related to cervical, prostate, uterine, colon, and lung cancer.

LUCY'S HOUSE - LODGING PROGRAM 

A special thank you to Norman & Dorothy Eastwood for generously creating & funding this critical program. 

Since 2019, over 1,598 nights of lodging have been provided to individuals with various forms of cancer.  

Over the last 3 years, Gunnison Tough has seen a DRAMATIC increase in our Lucy's House program utilization compared to previous years.  

Providing 1,085 nights of lodging in 2023, 2024, and 2025 combined, compared to an average of 150 nights of lodging in previous years. A 140% increase!

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY 

Gunnison Tough gives cancer patients and their caregivers the opportunity to access integrative therapies such as reiki, massage, acupuncture, light therapy, nutrition, ortho bionomy. 

These therapies have been proven to help cancer patients stay strong mentally and  physically while they are going through their surgeries and treatments. Research findings show that integrative therapies can help to boost the immune system and reduce pain. 

In 2025, Gunnison Tough provided $23,500 in integrative therapy support.

With over 45 clients/caregivers receiving multiple therapy sessions.

TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM  

HARRISON, BETTY ANN, TUFFY, JIMMIE LOU AND MINNIE PEARL 

Our FIVE vehicles help get people with any type of cancer safely to their out of town appointments and treatments. 

Total Miles Traveled in 2025: 65,100 miles compared to 47,800 miles in 2024. 

Supporting 31 clients and their families as they access treatments outside of the valley.

FRIENDS OF TOUGH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FRIENDS OF PINK) 

Since 2015, Friends of Pink has given over $293,353 in financial support to individuals going through breast cancer. Since our transition to Gunnison Tough this program has been opened to individuals with ANY form of cancer.  

In 2025, Gunnison Tough significantly expanded its reach to support all cancer types, leading to a transformative increase in community assistance. Over the last two years, the program's impact has surged by 300% in individuals served and over 400% in financial aid distributed.

• Individuals Assisted: Grew from 8 individuals in 2024 to 32 in 2025
• Financial Support: Increased from $21,798 in 2024 to $111,353 in 2025
  

The Friends of Tough program provides critical relief for a wide range of needs, including treatment expenses, transportation, housing and grocery bills, house cleaning, and lost wages.

GUNNISON VALLEY HOSPITAL

Provides state of the art equipment, physicians, and services to be the best small town cancer care hospital in the USA.  

In 2025, Gunnison Tough purchased new recliners for the infusion room at GVH as well as new vital monitoring machines. 

Adding to the inventory of top of the line equipment that Gunnison Tough (TETWP) has provided to our local hospital which includes a 3D Tomosynthesis Mammography machine, digital ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy equipment, a breast MRI coil and a ABUS breast ultrasound machine.  

All of this state of the art equipment allows our community to receive the necessary screenings and treatments for breast cancer here at GVH.  

Oncology Nurse Navigator 

We support a portion of the salary of the nurse navigator who helps anyone going through a cancer diagnosis in the Gunnison Valley (not just those who are using the services of the hospital).

SPARKY'S FUND

In 2025, Gunnison Tough was able to provide a total of $3,351 in financial support for child care, extra curricular activities, summer programming, etc. to five families with children.