67th Annual Iroquois Steeplechase - Sarah Bishop

You may have been one of the thousands at Steeplechase today, soaking up the sun at one of Nashville's favorite events.

But for one young girl, the meaning of the day reaches far beyond just a day of fun at the races.

It's the adrenaline of the fast running horse, the fun outside with friends, and even the platform to sport your favorite hat that brought many to Percy Warner Park Saturday.

But for one child, a dream of seeing the horses up close and personal, was really nothing short of a miracle.

"It's just like I imagined, the horses hooves pouncing on the ground," Ashley Hedgepath said.

11 year old Ashley is lucky to be alive.

"Ashley had a golf ball size mass, it was in her brain stem, we took her to surgery to remove it as it came to the surface and we spent 8 hours taking it out. The risks were high, but the cost of if we didn't were higher," Dr. Matthew Pearson of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital said.

"It was just like, your day just changes like that, and you realize that in an instant you could lose your family," Ashley's mother, Cathy Hedgepath said.

"I was a little scared, but I was ready for the surgery because I wanted to be back to my old self again," Ashley said.

Her 'old' self is a 5th grader who loves riding her horse Sonny.

"God and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital is the reason why we have her here today," Gary Hedgepath, Ashley's father said.

Just over a year after the surgery, Ashley is alive and well and serving as this year's Iroquois Steeplechase Child Ambassador, even handing out trophies in the winners circle.

"I'm really excited. Out of all these people in the world who's been to Children's Hospital, I got chosen to be the Ambassador and it's been really fun today," Ashley said.

A day of fun, that also raises money to help children like Ashley, who to her parents, is the real champion of the day.

"She is our miracle, she's our miracle," Cathy Hedgepath said.

While they continue to monitor her, doctors say, Ashley is doing well.

Over the last 27 years more than 8 million dollars has been raised through the Steeplechase to help Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.