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FRANKLIN, Idaho — A Logan woman died after she was thrown from a snowmobile over the weekend. Her death has left an entire community in mourning.
Raysha Nielsen, 21, was snowmobiling with friends Saturday in the Hilldale Canyon area just east of Franklin, Idaho.
She was a passenger on a snowmobile returning to the unloading area around 3:30 p.m, according to David Fryar of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
He said while the driver of the snowmobile was making a turn the vehicle suddenly accelerated and hit a tree. Witnesses said Nielsen was not responsive after the accident. Emergency crews and a medical helicopter responded to the scene but personnel were unable to revive her.
Nielsen is the daughter of Rich Gladfelder, owner of Renegade Sports in Logan. She graduated from Sky View High School in 2010 and worked for Renegade Sports for the past 12 years.
"She was just so determined," Gladfelder said. "She put her mind to something, you couldn't tell her no. There's nothing she felt like she couldn't do. And nothing she felt like she couldn't accomplish."
Nielsen started racing snowmobiles at age 13 and became a professional at 15. She also became a world champion hill climber, according to close family friend Cory Chapman.
Nielsen donated all of her earnings to a cause she created called "Race for a Cure," which benefits breast cancer research, and her pink ribbon rider snowmobile made a powerful impression for competitors and fans at snowmobile racing events. Nielsen inspired Polaris to take part in her cause.
"She was amazing," Chapman said. "She was one of the most generous and giving people you will ever meet in your life. She continued to race snowmobiles just simply because she wanted to help the breast cancer fund."
She leaves behind her husband Cory Nielsen and their 3-year-old son Traxton.
"Her family is extremely tight," Chapman said. "If you ever saw one of them without the other — it was impossible to believe."
"I've been absolutely amazed at the things that she was doing, and the people she was touching this whole time," Gladfelder said.
A memorial fund has been set up for Traxton to help pay for his future college experience. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the "Raysha Gladfelder Nielsen Memorial Fund." Donations can also be made at the Renegade Motorsports in Logan or Centerville.
An additional fund has been set up for the Race for the Cure. Donations can be made at any Zions Bank under the "Raysha Gladfelder Nielsen Donations" account.
*KSL.com
Contributing: Haley Smith