Out Living It Day: It’s Official!

2018 was a banner year for First Descents and the incredible community we serve.  We hosted more than 120 programs, provided 1,300 experiences to young adults impacted by cancer, and witnessed our community of FD Alumni continue to out live it on adventures of all types.  To celebrate, we ended the year with a surprise bang!  We are honored to announce that last Friday Governor John W. Hickenlooper of Colorado proclaimed December 14, 2018 as Out Living It Day in honor of the life-changing work FD has done both in Colorado and nationwide!

Out Living It is more than just a phrase.  It is a lifestyle and a mindset that each member of our community embraces in their own unique way.  From sharing a personal story with a friend, to running a marathon, to playing a benefit concert, or making time to meditate each morning, there are so many ways our friends, alumni and supporters continue to embody and redefine what Out Living It is all about.

Happy “Out Living It Day” from all of us at First Descents! Here’s to another year of community, adventure and healing.

Read the full Out Living It Day proclamation from Governor Hickenlooper below.

WHEREAS, First Descents has been a leader in the Colorado nonprofit sector since 2001 providing life-changing outdoor adventures to over 8,000 young adults impacted by cancer empowering them to Out Live their diagnosis and connect with others doing the same; and

WHEREAS, through externally led research efforts, First Descents has demonstrated vast positive health outcomes associated with adventure programs and social connection including increases in self esteem and body image as well as a decrease in rates of depression among First Descents’ participants; and

WHEREAS, First Descents is working to Prescribe Adventure to all young adults diagnosed with cancer in Colorado by partnering with the leading healthcare and medical centers in the state, including institutions such as Children’s Hospital Colorado, UC Health, HealthONE and their hundreds of hospitals across Colorado; and

WHEREAS, in 2016 First Descents Founder Brad Ludden was honored as a Top 10 CNN Hero and First Descents was recognized as the 2017 ColoradoBiz Top Nonprofit for extending the healing power of adventure to thousands of individuals living with and surviving cancer across Colorado and the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Out Living It mantra has inspired thousands of individuals beyond our First Descents’ participants to live life to the fullest in wild places including, the mountains, rivers, and deserts of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, due to the impact of First Descents and their continued vision to be the leader in adventure based healing for young adults impacted by serious medical conditions and their desire to spread the Out Living It mantra as far as possible,

Therefore, I, John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of the entire State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim, forever after, July 28, as OUT LIVING IT DAY