In March, the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming presented their annual awards at the Seawell Ballroom in Denver. Over 500 people attended the annual hybrid event honoring the heroes for 2022. Host Gloria Neal and CEO Gino Grico opened the event followed by introductions by Kelli Kane with Kaiser Permanente and Governor Jared Polis and the Rocky Mountain hero presentations.
Red Cross Hero Award Banner
This year’s heroes included Armed Forces heroes: Colton Sasser and Ron Nading with the U.S. Army and Shawn Moore with the U.S. Marine Corps, who joined Hunting with Heroes in Wyoming for a personal healing retreat. The Blood Save Lives award was presented to David Beichly for promoting a blood drive with UCHealth for his friend and hockey goalie Dennis Borland of Johnstown, who was injured in a motorcycle highway accident resulting in losing his leg. According to UCHealth, the last two years have been detrimental for blood drives due to the blood shortages during COVID-19.
The Lifesaving Hero award was presented to Terran Guccini and Lewis Baker for saving friend Mike Johnson, who passed out from a heatstroke at a motocross event. Quick thinking on providing CPR for their friend saved Johnson’s life. The Youth Hero award was presented to Leroy Trujillo for saving his injured friend on a dirt motorcycle accident in a rugged canyon. Again, quick thinking from Leroy in taking his friend on his motorcycle out of the rugged canyon to the closest helicopter landing saved his friend from bleeding to death.
The last award for the Home Fire Hero of the Year was presented to the Boulder Police Dept. and Boulder Fire & Rescue Dept. for rescuing residents in a major condo fire in the early morning that destroyed the entire condo complex. Luckily, no residents sustained major injuries or deaths. Thanks to these heroes of the year!