The Chenoa Nickerson Memorial Fund: Honoring a Life Lost to the Grand Canyon
GRAND CANYON VILLAGE, Ariz. — In a tragic incident involving a flash flood in the Grand Canyon, Chenoa Nickerson lost her life while hiking near Havasu Creek on Aug. 22. While her husband was rescued, Chenoa went missing in the Colorado River, sparking a three-day search effort that tragically ended with the discovery of her body 20 miles downriver on Aug. 25.
In honor of Chenoa’s memory and to support the Grand Canyon National Park’s Search and Rescue Program, her siblings—Tamara Morales, Kyra Farkas, and Janosh Wolters—have established a memorial fund through the Grand Canyon Conservancy in their sister’s name. This fund aims to provide assistance to the brave individuals who risk their lives to save others in the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon SAR is one of the busiest search and rescue programs in the national park system, responding to over 300 incidents annually. They operate across rugged terrain, from high-desert cliffs to the rushing waters of the Colorado River, using specialized equipment and training to perform daring rescues.
The Chenoa Nickerson Memorial Fund will support Grand Canyon SAR by helping to purchase essential equipment, fund training programs, and provide support for first responders and their families. Donations to the fund can be made here.
In a statement, Chenoa’s siblings expressed their gratitude to the search and rescue teams, acknowledging the risks they take and the closure they provide to families in times of tragedy:
“These brave men and women utilized every resource to find our sweet sister by navigating dangerous terrain with extremely limited methods of communication while leaving no stone unturned. We are profoundly grateful for them and fully acknowledge that they defied the impossible to bring our family the gift of closure.”
By contributing to the Chenoa Nickerson Memorial Fund, you can play a part in supporting the vital work of Grand Canyon SAR and honoring the memory of a life lost too soon.
For more information and to make a donation, visit the memorial fund website here.
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