Lee Canyon’s 8th Annual Chris Ruby Memorial Cup benefiting the Nevada Donor Network is Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. The event celebrates the life and legacy of Chris Ruby, a local 20-year-old who, in 2014, passed away in a tragic snowboarding accident. Ruby was a lifelong mountain athlete, and his passing rocked Las Vegas’ ski and snowboard community. A registered organ, eye and tissue donor, Ruby, through the Nevada Donor Network, saved and healed the lives of over 90 patients, including his aunt.
Entry fees for the family-friendly ski and snowboard race are $20. Lee Canyon covers registration fees for those who register to become organ, eye and tissue donors at the event or are already donors;100 percent of proceeds go to the nonprofit. Races are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; awards are at 4 p.m. The day also includes live music and prizes for winning racers. Registration is available at www.leecanyonlv.com. (Registration link here.)
Over 6,000 skiers and snowboarders have affirmed their registration or have registered to become donors at the Chris Ruby Memorial Cup. The event has also raised about $40,000 since its inception in 2016. All proceeds benefit Nevada Donor Network’s foundation, a nonprofit responsible for ‘ending the wait’ in Nevada by bringing the Nevada Transplant Institute to fruition.
“The Ruby family has been a part of the Lee Canyon community for decades. We’ve been honored to work together to create an event that’s a tribute to Chris’ passion for snowsports and the outdoors and honors the lives he helped and saved,” says Jim Seely, Lee Canyon’s director of marketing. Last winter, Lee Canyon produced a mini-documentary about the event and the Ruby family; it can be viewed here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zxemyaszgay14hn/Chris%20Ruby%20Doc%20Final.mp4?dl=0
“The Nevada Donor Network’s End the Wait Campaign is vital for our community. It means Nevadans will no longer have to go out of state for lifesaving care. We’re proud to support this effort,” says Seely.
‘End the Wait’ is a capital campaign established by the Nevada Donor Network Foundation to raise $35 million to develop a transplant institute in Nevada. It will expand the current kidney transplant program, create a new liver transplant program and recruit qualified physicians, nurses and support staff to implement a successful transplant program.
“Nevada Donor Network’s Foundation is grateful for the continued commitment of the Ruby Family and Lee Canyon in reaching our lifesaving goal,” said Steven Peralta, president of Nevada Donor Network’s Foundation. “The only way we can end the wait for over 600 Nevadans is by inspiring others to give the ultimate gift by registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. And also by financial contributions to our capital campaign. We look forward to continuing Chris Ruby’s legacy and saving and healing more lives than ever.”
In 2017, Lee Canyon received Nevada Donor Network’s Community Champion Award. For those who can’t attend the Chris Ruby Memorial Cup but want to contribute to Nevada Donor
Network, an online donation is possible by visiting this link:https://e.givesmart.com/events/pGt/.
