Cindy Fowler had taught her daughter, Emily, a motto to always live by:”What do you want to be remembered for?

Sunday night, at the Pikes Peak Range Riders’ after-ride dinner at the Antlers Hilton, Fowler was honored posthumously with the group’s top community honor, the Silver Spur Award. It recognized all those things Cindy Fowler accomplished and will be remembered for, saying she had “made a difference in our community and has given back through her dedicated service, leadership and vision, faithfulcommitment and her loving and caring spirit.” Fowler died Feb. 29 at age 53 after a four-year battle with cancer.

Even as she faced her own cancer, Fowler, with the support of a large group of friends, had built an annual event, “Cowgirls and Cocktails,” a girls’ night out to have fun as they raised money for women in the community who have faced or are facing breast cancer. The June 7 event that filled Norris-Penrose Events Center with shades of pink was a sold-out tribute to Fowler.

In 2008 Fowler was honored by 300 friends with the Hope Award, which raised $70,000, part of which went toward helping women cancer patients with their most basic needs.Fowler had volunteered a number of years with Newborn Hope where she was the board for eight years and later executive advisor. The nonprofit supports programs to help prevent premature births and to benefit treatment of critically ill infants.

She had been active in Junior League of Colorado Springs, Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council, El Paso County Heart Association, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, TESSA, Women’s Foundation of Colorado National Charity League.

A city girl born in Denver, she became comfortable in cowboy boots as a director on the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Board and helped restart the Pikes Peak Posse, a group of local business people that helped contribute to college funds of local youngsters by purchasing their prize-winning 4-H livestock at the El Paso County Fair and the Colorado State Fair.

Over the years Fowler received many awards, but one that had a major impact for her was the 2010 Chamber of Commerce Athena Award because it honored her as a female community leader who assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential and who had achieved sucess in business as well as performing “superior community service.”

In announcing Fowler as the Silver Spur winner, Kevin Maguire quoted her boss at OfficeScapes, Peter Husak, who is also Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Board President. He described her as:an expert marketer

a professional arm twister

a passionate volunteer advocate

a woman of class, beauty and grace

a trusted advisor and mentor

a treasured friend and confidante

a caring spirit

a visionary of hope

a valued leader of our community

The award was accepted on the honoree’s behalf by her daughter Emily and her husband David Sheldon. Her husband, Chuck, was unable to attend because their home was in one of the possible evacuation areas from the Waldo Canyon Fire.

As a Silver Spur honoree, Fowler joined previous winner including David Jenkins, Bob Norris, Bob Baker, Mary Ellen McNally, area military personnel and Merv Bennett.

Waldo Canyon Fire

The 54th annual Pikes Peak Range Ride, which wrapped up Sunday, had been impacted by the wildfires. First their ride was rerouted to avoid a fire area, then some of the Range Riders had to leave early because of possible evacuations at home. Others left the ride to help friends impacted by the Waldo Canyon Fire. They reported that several on the Range Ride were ready to help fellow Range Rider Billy Jack Barrett with horse evacuations at the Air Force Academy stables.