Welcome to Gunnison Tough!
Gunnison Tough is dedicated to providing comprehensive cancer programs to keep our community strong. We serve residents of Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties of Colorado including Crested Butte, Almont, Gunnison, Parlin, Pitkin, and Lake City.
We are Gunnison Tough
Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink is now Gunnison Tough. Previously subsiding under Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo, Gunnison Tough now has an independent 501C-3 status, allowing the organization to continue our community support, expand our grant application opportunities, and continue our valued partnerships.
Our Mission:
Gunnison Tough is dedicated to providing comprehensive cancer programs to keep our community strong.
Our Vision:
Gunnison Tough keeps all the money raised in our valley to support our community in their needs to stay healthy and strong in the face of cancer. Equipped with a powerful historical foundation, Gunnison Tough continues to identify and serve our community’s growing needs through partnerships and collaboration to provide our valley with the best rural cancer care in the country.
2025 Annual Report
Download the 2025 Annual Report (PDF, 4.1 MB)
PATIENTS: please visit “How to Get Assistance” for an application.
Say Hello to Our Patient Transportation Vehicles!
Gunnison Tough helps patients reach their appointments safely and comfortably with our patient transportation vehicles.
Driver volunteers are needed! Please see the volunteer page if you would like to help out.
Thank you to Sky High Offroad and CB Towing & Recovery for keeping our vehicles in tip-top shape from their tires to oil changes.
Read more about our vehicle program on the Programs page.
“GVH has one of the strongest rural mammography programs in the state of Colorado and the Gunnison community should be proud of this service.”
– Inspector, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services
Gunnison Tough was in my corner for the fight of my life. Making sure I was taken care of and not giving up. They made me realize it was ok to pause some of my life to fight. To win. That I wasn’t being lazy or a charity case. But that I was getting the help that I needed to beat this. And I did win.
-Meagan F.
Help Your Neighbors Dealing with Cancer
Please join us in helping make this difficult time for our Gunnison Valley community members a little easier. Click any of the photos or the Community Needs button below to learn how to help.
Liz Fuller GoFundMe
Theresa Henry GoFundMe
Dylan Miller GoFundMe
2026 Cancer Program Impact
Programs are available to all ages & all cancers, year-round.
*Program numbers reflect 2026 impact thus far.
Friends of Tough
No financial aid requests were received in January.
Make it a Great Day
7 Clients and 13 Sessions of Integrative sessions, providing $1,530 of support in 2026
Lucy’s House
83 Nights of lodging provided to 5 individuals
Transportation
4,145 Miles traveled by 6 individuals
Sparky’s Fund
$3,321 awarded to 5 clients to provide support or engagement to children of families going through cancer
Total # of Community Members Impacted
31 community members impacted including immediate family members and caregivers.
How We Have Helped the Gunnison Valley
According to a 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment, cancer care is one of the highest priority needs identified by our community. To address this need, Gunnison Tough has helped in the following ways:
- Total fundraising through 2024 since 2005 is $6,279,634.
- 2022 Cattlemen’s Days fundraising campaigns raised $1,125,034.
- Pedal for Pink raised $33,000.
- 2021 fundraising campaigns raised $650,000.
- 2020 fundraising campaigns raised $557,000.
- 2023 – Purchase of the ABUS – automated breast ultrasound machine – $279,807.50
- 2020 $147,000 purchase of Breast MRI Coil.
- 2019 $160,000 purchase of a Breast Stereotactic Biopsy Device.
- 2017 $370,000.00 purchase of a Hologic 3D Tomosynthesis Mammography Machine.
- Proven to detect 20%-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone, an average increase of 41%.
- Proven to reduce callbacks by up to 40% compared to 2D alone.
- FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone.
- $120,000 funded in mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies since 2013 for uninsured or underinsured Gunnison Valley residents. In 2020 alone, Gunnison Tough has funded more than $25,000 to cover the cost of life-saving breast cancer screenings for those who do not have health insurance coverage.
- Over $1,679,807.50 has been used since 2006 to purchase equipment ( ABUS, Breast MRI Coil, 3D Tomosynthesis, ultrasound, digital mammography, stereotactic biopsy, PINK robes, and warmers) to expand breast cancer services at Gunnison Valley Hospital as part of a comprehensive strategic plan with Gunnison Valley Hospital to make this the best small town breast cancer facility in the US.
- 30% of the salary for the Oncology Nurse Navigator hired to help all cancer patients in the Gunnison Valley to navigate the complexities of treatments, medications, insurance, transportation, and provide support and assistance throughout all stages of the cancer continuum.
- “Tuffy” the Transportation Ram Truck purchased in 2016, and “Bucky” the Dodge Durango purchased in 2018 help all cancer patients get to their out of town medical appointments safely and comfortably. They have traveled over 132,735 miles across the state. GT welcomed a third vehicle, Betty Ann, donated in 2020!
- $190,000 granted since 2015 through the Friends of Tough program to help individuals in the Gunnison Valley who were impacted financially due to a breast cancer diagnosis (lost wages, travel expenses for treatment, etc.).
- $10,000 in funding the honorary Edie Gibson “Make It A Great Day” program which helps Gunnison Valley residents who are diagnosed with cancer by providing coupons for them and their caregivers to utilize the therapy services of Integrative Therapies.
- $10,000 to fund Mammo Mondays. A nice treat providing patients with a relaxing massage or reiki after having their annual mammogram at GVH.
- $34,000 since 2019 through Lucy’s House providing lodging assistance to individuals with any type of cancer.
- $2,000 to Casting for Recovery to send two Gunnison County Ladies to the 2018 Fly Fishing Retreat for breast cancer survivors in Redstone, CO.
“Gunnison Valley Health and Tough Enough To Wear Pink have collaborated on a strategic plan to bring the best in breast care services to the Valley. We could not have done this without the support of Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”
– Rob Santilli, CEO Gunnison Valley Health
It sounds cliche but when I received the call that I had breast cancer the ground fell from beneath me. I had no idea what I was going to do. My friend, who had been diagnosed with cancer, helped me out. She immediately set me up with Lana from Gunnison Tough. From that point on I felt like I had my own personal cancer assistant. Lana and the Gunnison Tough community thought of things that weren’t on my radar. They helped and are continuing to help me navigate this diagnosis. Their care was personal and quick. When everything else was so murky and muddy, Gunnison Tough provided a clear path. They helped me through every step from diagnosis, treatment and surgery to survivorship. They continue to help with all of the challenges that I still face. With the vehicles, lodging, counseling for myself and my children, acupuncture, assistance with bills and many other benefits I was able to focus on my battle and recovery. I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for the kindness of Gunnison Tough and their sponsors. I am a multi-generational Gunnisonite and my father said that what makes this valley special is the people. That has never been as true to me as it is right now. Thank you Lana and the entire Gunnison Tough community.
-Liz Mick
