I met Katie Schou briefly at a party of a mutual friend, but it wasn’t until we were camping together at Burning Man that I had an opportunity to connect with her. Schou was working on the inaugural Send It Foundation event. Her brother Jamie Schou, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma, founded the organization. He lost a two-year battle with the disease in 2014.
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“It’s a reminder for everyone living with or without cancer that although we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we have today. It’s about being alive and living life to its fullest.”
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“During the last year of his life it was Jamie’s dream to create a foundation. He lived the last years of his life doing what he loved, skiing in Chamonix, mountain biking, climbing and sailing. He wanted young adults with cancer to experience the outdoor life he so loved,” Schou explained.
The Send It Foundation’s mission is to inspire positivity, courage and gratitude in young adult cancer fighters through the gift of outdoor adventure and community.
Schou invited me to teach yoga and meditation in September, where 12 people from around the country participated in a weekend retreat to experience mountain life. A friend of the family offered their home on Lake Tahoe to host the first event. Three doctors who were all in remission from cancer participated and supported the event as medical staff.
“We wanted to have an event where people could forget about their disease, and yet we wanted to create space for the group to share and connect about what was going on in their lives,” said Schou.
The group gathered and set their intentions for the weekend. Mornings began with yoga and meditation followed by a beautiful breakfast prepared by local chef Tommy Adkins, a friend of Jamie’s. After breakfast, participants went mountain biking, standup paddleboarding and kayaking. For some, it was not only their first time in the Tahoe area but also the first time doing outdoor activities of this nature.
Tahoe Adventure Company donated paddleboards and kayaks to the Send It Foundation for the weekend while Northstar donated time in the bike park. Mark Bjornson, a good friend of the family, brought out his boat and took people tubing. Katie and her two sisters, Margo and Caroline, helped facilitate the weekend.
“Each night after dinner the group gathered around a campfire to share their fears and issues fighting cancer. The weekend was emotional, powerful, raw and real. It was beautiful to watch people from all walks of life come together connect, and take care of each other,” Schou explained.
It was after a yoga class one morning that Schou shared her experience of her brother’s death, she opened up and expressed the impact his passing had on her and her family. It was with this raw openness that she was able to hold others during the retreat. The weekend created an opportunity for people to open up and express what it was like to live with cancer, how it affects them and their relationships with their family and their friends while living with uncertain future.
What does it mean to Send It?
“It’s a reminder for everyone living with or without cancer that although we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we have today. It’s about being alive and living life to its fullest,” explained Schou. “Jamie would say that Send It represents positivity, pushing boundaries, enthusiasm and living life to its fullest,” she added.
The Send It Foundation will host two programs in Lake Tahoe – one in February and one in March. Activities will include skiing, snowshoeing and kite boarding. All food, lodging, gear and activities are included and free of charge for participants. Applications are available on the Web site. Donations to support the Send It Foundation may be made online.
Schou, devastated by her brother’s death has found solace and purpose in giving back. She runs the foundation and is passionate about helping others.
“Today is a gift and no one knows what will happen tomorrow,” said Schou.
Katie Schou may be reached at katie@senditfoundation.org or visit senditfoundation.org.
