Parents will do anything to help their children. For Chesley “Ches” Chen, this means reaching one million vertical feet on skis in a single snow season after his son’s cancer diagnosis. Chen’s son, Tristan, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in May of 2022.
Shred for Red is a fundraiser that occurs throughout the winter season, with an annual final day event at Deer Valley, Utah, in March. The goal is to expand this event to other resorts. This year, the skiers raised $250,000, and in 2025, this event raised $450,000. The vertical challenge occurs throughout the winter season and invites skiers and snowboarders to track their vertical feet, compete, and support blood cancer research.
Ches Chen took it upon himself to raise awareness and fundraise for blood cancer research. He joined the board of the non-profit, Blood Cancer United, which funds oncology research and provides free patient services. Blood Cancer United funded the research that was the cure for Tristan’s rare diagnosis. This non-profit has been hosting a skiing fundraiser for the past eight years called Shred for Red.
Chen came up with the idea to ski one million vertical feet after participating in this challenge. “I found out about the ski fundraiser and thought, ‘Well, this is a way to put two things together. My passion for curing blood cancer and my passion for skiing,” said Ches Chen. He reached 1,000,000 vertical feet on March 9 in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
The passionate father told SnowBrains that during chair lift rides,”One out of three people that I struck up a conversation with knew somebody directly who had or has blood cancer.” This statistic inspired him to become a ski ambassador for Blood Cancer United, helping educate people, and provide information about its resources. “I’d love to get more people involved. If they want to ski or shred for a cause, this is a pretty good one,” he emphasized.
The signs and symptoms of blood cancer can be subtle. Tristan Chen was working on a rock-climbing project in Colorado when he noticed a small, unusual bruise on his finger. He went to an urgent care for a blood test, which revealed that his platelet count was extremely low. Chen went to the emergency room and was later diagnosed with AML. His treatment required a stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, and months of recovery.
Nine months after his diagnosis, Tristan was back to his true passion – rock climbing. He is a cancer survivor and a world-class athlete.
If you want to support research for blood cancer, consider donating. If you or a loved one is dealing with blood cancer, Blood Cancer United has free resources for them.
