Soon after that conversation, Cheryl met a military captain at a party in Vail. She told him her idea of bringing injured service men and women to the slopes. He said to her, "M'am, you raise the money and you organize it, and I'll get you some wounded soldiers."

Cheryl immediately began fundraising and asking businesses for everything from free hotel rooms, to nice dinners, to ski rentals. "People's eyes would well up. They would say 'what else do you need, what else can I do, can I volunteer, can I write a check to you?' Nobody said no because it was their way in which to give back."

Two months later, in February of 2004, the Vail Veterans Program came to life. That's when the first group of soldiers, fresh from therapy at Walter Reed Medical Center arrived. Helped by a slew of ski instructors, they took to the slopes using different adaptive ski apparatuses depending on their specific injury. They would stay for four nights and three days of fun.

Marine Chris Fesmire lost his legs in Iraq. He recalls that first day on the mountain without traditional skis. "The first couple times it wasn't so good because I wasn't such a good skier," Chris said. "I had to learn all over again, but once I got it down, there's not many feelings now that I can experience that can compare to it."

Chris is hooked. He and his wife Willow are building a home in the mountains, so he can ski more. His goal? He hopes to ski 90 days this winter.

"Cheryl's an angel," said Chris. "She really is. Not only has she done so much good for wounded service members--people like me--but also she provides an example to the younger generation." Chris was referring to the importance of, "helping people just for the sake of helping people."

"I think the Vail Veterans Program has really helped me adapt to as well as have confidence and direction in my life since I've been injured," Chris said. Chris comes back each spring and helps each new group of injured veterans. "By the last night of that weekend, it's ah a big party, a big family, everyone's smiling, talking, laughing with each other…it's a lot of fun…and that's what it's all about."

Cheryl had met Chris on her second visit to Walter Reed Medical Center. She makes it a point to go there a few times a year and recruit soldiers to come to Vail to ski.

"When all the sudden that person you met in the hospital bed four months before shows up at the Eagle airport walking down on his computerized leg with his snowboard boats over his shoulder and says 'M'am, I made it'…that's a pretty big deal."

Cheryl recalls a pivotal moment with the Vail Veterans Program. "On the last day of the event, one of the double above-the-knee amputees came to me and said, 'you know I don't know why you all did this for us, but you changed my life.'"

Thanks to Cheryl's continued work, the Vail Veterans Program now has a summer weekend that includes rafting, horseback riding, fishing, and camping. Three nights–three days.

The Vail Veterans Program isn't the only program to help others that Cheryl has spearheaded. Seven years ago, she started Sharing Warmth Around the Globe (SWAG). Each year, she rounds up gently used winter jackets from ski resorts around the country. She also throws a holiday party on top of Vail Mountain for kids in the Eagle County Buddy Mentor Program. She also helped raise money for the Cancer Caring House in Edwards. It provides lodging for people receiving chemotherapy.

Cricket McLaren, who manages the ranch where the veterans go for the summer program, summed up Cheryl's heart and drive with, "My impression of Cheryl is she's the nicest person who doesn't take 'no' for an answer that I've ever met. She's got a heart of gold. There's no question."