TRUCKEE, Calif. — What began as one man’s determination to keep living life to the fullest while battling cancer has grown into a nonprofit that has connected hundreds of young adults with adventure, community, and the outdoors. Along the way, it also revealed the strength and depth of support from Truckee-Tahoe area businesses, organizations and community members willing to come together for a shared cause. 

In March 2012, Jamie Schou was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Over the next two years, he underwent extensive chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. Unfortunately, what began as a tumor in Jamie’s back eventually spread to more than 30 tumors in his lungs. 

He died on July 12, 2014, but not before laying the groundwork for a Truckee based organization dedicated to helping other young adult cancer patients and survivors find joy, connection, and confidence through outdoor adventure.

“Through his experience with cancer, he felt incredibly motivated to continue doing the things he loved, being out on the ski hill with friends or on the lake,” said his sister, Katie Schou. “It was such an instrumental part of his cancer journey. This feeling of being alive, doing the things he loved, made him feel strong and confident going into his next round of treatment.”

Jamie created the Send It Foundation during the final year of his life. Following his death, his sisters Katie, Margot, and Caroline Schou committed themselves to carrying his vision forward. The nonprofit was built around a simple philosophy: while no one knows what tomorrow holds, everyone has today.

By the end of 2014, the organization had raised more than $100,000 and began planning its first programs. Today, send it offers multi-day outdoor adventure programs for young adult cancer patients and survivors. Programs include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, surfing, climbing, and backpacking throughout the Lake Tahoe and San Francisco Bay Area regions

 More than a decade later, the sisters credit much of the foundation’s growth to the Truckee-Tahoe community that rallied behind the mission from the beginning.

“This community has shown up since day one,” Katie said.

After graduating college, Jamie moved to Truckee and worked at Tahoe Dave’s, a local ski and board shop, for many years. Today, Tahoe Dave’s is one of the foundation’s longest supporters, providing ski and snowboard rentals for Send It programs free of charge.

But the support is not just limited to those who knew Jamie, it extends throughout the region. Palisades Tahoe has provided free and discounted lift tickets, while businesses including Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats and RMU have supported fundraising efforts and programming. Alpenglow Expeditions has provided guides and climbing experiences, helping participants access outdoor activities they might not otherwise been able to experience.

From equipment and instruction to financial support and volunteer efforts, many more local businesses and organizations have played a key role in helping the foundation grow.

“There is just this feeling that we have a community that will show up, say yes, and uplift the people who are doing good work,” Katie said.

That support has allowed Send It to expand its reach far beyond Truckee. Many participants travel from across the country to attend the nonprofit’s programs, many trying activities they never imagined themselves doing.

“We had a woman who lives in Reno join a backpacking trip, and she had never been camping in the woods before in her life,” Katie said. “Now, she’s one of our four backpacking trip leaders.”

Others have learned to ski or snowboard for the first time through Send It programs. Some have become so connected to the outdoor community that they eventually relocated to the Tahoe region.

For the sisters, those stories reflect the lasting impact her brother hoped the organization would have when he first envisioned it more than a decade ago.

“I think this kind of community support really helps break down barriers and makes people feel welcomed, included, and supported in this space,” Caroline said.

Today, Send It Foundation continues to turn Jamie’s belief in the healing power of adventure into reality; creating opportunities for young adults to find strength, community, and joy beyond their cancer diagnosis.