Kevin's favorite thing to do was to ski. It didn't matter what kind of skiing he did, he just wanted to be out in the snow. He worked ski patrol at Sugarloaf in Maine for years and loved every second of it. He used to tell me stories about patrolling and get so excited that he helped someone on the mountain while he got to do what he loved most. He loved cross country skiing as well and used to race in high school. I will never forget the first day he taught me to cross county ski! I don't think he has ever laughed so hard at me! I was on the ground more than I was up, while he skated around me making it all look so simple. Being on skis was second nature to Kevin.

After he had his stroke, we never thought he would ski again. And in all honesty, he probably should not have. But, how do you keep someone off of skis who has it in his blood?! People who saw him ski after his stroke kept saying that it was like he was born to do it. He couldn't do all the stuff he used to on skis, but he could get down the mountain better than some people who had no disabilities. It made me cry the first time I saw him back on his skis. Me, the very overprotective girlfriend, who wanted to do anything I could for him not to get hurt, couldn't say no when he asked to ski. And believe me, I tried!

I was devastated when Kevin died, I still am. I don't think it is something you ever get over. I knew I wanted to do something to honor Kevin and I knew it had to have something to do with skiing. Kevin wanted people to know about Marfan Syndrome and he wanted people to understand what happened to him. I think part of that was him wanting people to know he was the same person he was before the disability, and part of it was that he didn't want other people to have to go through what he did. He wanted to make sure other people were educated about Marfan Syndrome in hopes of "saving" someone else.

So, I decided to have a fundraiser in honor of Kevin to benefit the National Marfan Foundation. On February 9, 2008, I am having a cross country ski and snowshoe event at a resort in Colorado called Devil's Thumb Ranch. It is a place where Kevin and I only went once, but it is a very good memory, and a day I know Kevin loved. He would love to have people together out in the snow on skis or snowshoes having fun and raising money for the foundation so that the education and research can continue on Marfan Syndrome. I only wish that he was here to do it with me.

I will continue to provide updates on the event as the date gets closer. You can find out more about the event at www.cooksonsnowtrek.com.