National Jewish Health Crowns Mercedes-Benz of Denver First Winner of Inaugural Mile High Games


DENVER - The inaugural Mile High Games were held at Infinity Park Stadium in Glendale on June 12, 2026, with over 30 teams gathering for an afternoon of networking and team-building. The event, emceed by NBC’s American Ninja Warrior host Matt Iseman, raised over $130,000 for the National Jewish Health Morgridge Academy for children with chronic illnesses.

To earn points, each team rotated through a series of activities, including a tug of war, sack races, giant hamster ball races and a 62-foot American Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course. The event also featured the Bow River Capital Hydration Station, the Raleigh House Massage Tent and the First Western Trust Warm-Up.

The event’s host, Matt Iseman, was born and raised in Denver and is the son of world-renowned National Jewish Health pulmonologist Michael Iseman, MD, who passed away in 2022. While living in Los Angeles, Matt Iseman still stays connected with the hospital and Morgridge Academy, regularly lending his support through events like Mile High Games.

Morgridge Academy is a free K-8 school for children with chronic illnesses. It is the only school of its kind on a medical campus in the country. Tuition is free, thanks to fundraising events and generous donors nationwide.

“These kindergarten-through-eighth graders show up to school every day, ready to learn — all while managing diseases like severe asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, HIV and sickle cell anemia,” Iseman said at the event. “Because of the continuous care of nurses and specially trained teachers and staff, their child’s once-frequent visits to the emergency room or doctor’s office become few and far between. And they’re active — running, playing ball, swimming — activities that all children should be able to enjoy.”

In addition to Mercedes-Benz of Denver’s first place win, Bow River Capital took second place, Arapahoe Fire and Rescue took third place and Greiner Electric brought home the Most Spirited Award.

Sponsors included Automobile Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Denver; Hydration Station Sponsor Bow River Capital; Massage Station Sponsor The Raleigh House of Hope; Warm-Up Sponsor First Western Trust; Champion Awards Ceremony Sponsor Chotin Family Foundation; and Jewelry Sponsor Gnat Jewelry Atelier.

Food was provided by Le Bilboquet, Le Colonial, Zaidy’s and Little Man Ice Cream.
 

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation delivering excellence in multispecialty care and world class research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit njhealth.org or the media resources page.


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