2027 Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation

Giving Back to the Place That Gives Us So Much

For more than 40 years, athletes from around the world have travelled to Leadville to race, dig deep, and become part of something bigger than themselves. The Leadville Trail 100 is more than a race—it’s a community, a tradition, and everyone leaves as a member of the Leadville family.

As I take on the 2027 Leadville 100, I’m raising money for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the Leadville and Lake County community while honoring its mining heritage.

The Foundation’s mission is simple:

“The Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation exists to support the needs of the Leadville & Lake County community & build a better, brighter tomorrow while respecting our mining heritage.”

Every dollar raised stays in Leadville and Lake County. Through the Foundation’s Trail 100 Scholarships, $3,000 is provided to every Lake County High School graduate continuing their education—whether through college, trade school, an apprenticeship, or another educational path.

Through Legacy Grants, the Foundation also supports local nonprofits, programs, and projects that make a difference in the community, including trails, youth programs, the arts, emergency services, senior programs, and more.

The story of the Leadville Trail 100 itself began during a difficult time for the community. In 1982, the closure of the Climax Mine devastated Leadville and left thousands without work. From that uncertainty came an extraordinary idea: a 100-mile footrace through the mountains surrounding Leadville. Just 45 runners lined up for the first race, and now more than 600 athletes line up to race across the sky each year.

What started as an effort to bring people and economic activity back to Leadville grew into the Leadville Race Series and a community of athletes that are deeply connected to this special place. In 2002, the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation was established to turn that connection into lasting impact.

Today, athletes come to Leadville for the challenge, but leave as part of the Leadville Family. The Legacy Foundation allows us to give back to the community that has given so much to all of us.

Your support is more than a donation. It’s an investment in the people who call Leadville and Lake County home and in the future of the community.

Thank you for supporting my journey and helping me give back to a place that I love so much. Every donation makes a difference.