Mark Stockseth has been a fixture at NHRA drag races for years and more often than not his wife Marshall is by his side. The Stockseths routinely support a litany of racers, including current Stockseth Racing benefactors Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Matt and Angie Smith.
The couple are just as generous away from the racetrack, funding a variety of cancer-fighting charities to honor Marshall’s ongoing fight with the disease. Now they are asking the racing community at large to join in their latest endeavor and support good friend Travis Stover at this summer’s Leadville 100 Mountain Bike race, benefitting First Descents, a 501(c)3 charity.
“I’ve witnessed the generosity of the NHRA community many times,” Mark Stockseth said. “When Travis told us he wanted to ride this year’s race to honor his mother and Marshall, we thought it was a great gesture and one we wanted to fully support. Now we’re asking our friends in the NHRA to jump on board as well. We know first-hand through Marshall’s own experiences that First Descents is a wonderful organization and we hope everyone agrees.”
First Descents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same thing.
During the First Descents experience, young adult fighters and survivors are empowered through conquering legitimate outdoor challenges to push their limits and face their fears. By doing so, they are able to regain the confidence and self-worth lost to cancer. First Descents places an emphasis on each individual’s experience and provides the right support for every participant to achieve their goals for the week. The experience is designed to allow healing to happen naturally and organically — no forced conversations and no structured group sessions or therapy. Donate now by clicking here.
“I was originally diagnosed as a young adult, and a program like First Descents didn’t exist,” said Marshall Stockseth, who first battled cancer in 2001 before it returned in 2014. “How I chose to handle my diagnosis then and now is to be outdoors as much as possible and to challenge myself.
“At times, with the chemo, I can’t get very far but it is still tremendously uplifting and relaxing. It is my form of therapy. I fully believe First Descents can help empower others with cancer by getting them outdoors and challenging them.”
Each year, nearly 70,000 young adults between the ages of 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone.
“My personal connection to cancer comes through my mother and Marshall’s battles with this terrible disease,” Stover said. “I am dedicating my race to them. Mom got cancer about 8 years ago and went through surgery, radiation, and chemo treatments to fight it off. Watching her go through the treatments was very rough on both my mom and our family, but as of right now she is in remission and doing well.
“Back in 2001, Marshall went through similar treatments until she was in remission as well. Unfortunately, about two years ago, Marshall’s cancer returned and has metastasized in her lungs and spine. As of now the only treatment for her is chemo, which is helping keep the cancer at bay. Seeing her go through this breaks my heart and really puts in perspective how devastating cancer can be. I can’t image how hard it is being a young adult with cancer and going through the same treatments my mom and Marshall have endured.”
Donations of any amount are welcome. Please visit https://support.firstdescents.org/fundraise?fcid=584890 to support Stover and his ride for Marshall and his mother.
