U.S. Forest Service Gunflint District Ranger Dennis Neitzke with pink hair? If you’d like to see this become a reality, donate to the Mush for a Cure to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. If the tally reaches $5,000 by March 1, Neitzke will dye his hair pink!
Every year since its beginning, the Mush for a Cure has been a little bit more outrageous—and participants and spectators have wondered what outlandish activities organizers will offer next year. Plans are under way for the 2012 Mush for a Cure on Friday and Saturday, March 9 – 10 and it will of course include lots of pink, starting with a new “Color Me Pink” challenge.
In the “Color Me Pink” challenge, U.S. Forest Service Gunflint Ranger Dennis Neitzke has put his silver hair on the line. Neitzke has agreed to help raise funds for the Mush for a Cure by getting his head shaved. He follows in the footsteps of Gunflint Fire Department Chief Mike Prom and Assistant Chief Bob Baker and radio personalities Jason Manning (KQ95) and Bob Carter (WTIP) who volunteered to have their heads shaved at previous Mush for a Cure events.
However, Dennis’s wife, Debbie, suggested that he go beyond what has been done in the past. In addition to losing his locks, Dennis has agreed to color them pink! If donations to “Color Me Pink” reach $5,000, Dennis will dye his hair a nice bright pink. Donations have already started to roll in—the pink ticker tape shows $650 already.
“If I can raise $5,000 in donations, by March 1, I will dye my hair pink for the 10 days prior to the event,” said Dennis Neitzke, adding, “So go donate now and ‘Color Me Pink!’”
At press time, Neitzke was alone in his willingness to have his locks shorn, but Mush for a Cure fans are encouraged to stay tuned.
And, they are encouraged to start shopping for pink stuff. The Friday night pink pasta party at Windigo Lodge will have a pajama party theme. On Friday, March 9, there will also be a coronation of the Mush for a Cure king and queen at 9 p.m., followed by the “The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful” head shaving. If enough money is raised, heads will be shaved!
The Mush for a Cure of course once again features a non-competitive sled dog and skijor race on Saturday, March 10. The Saturday events start with a pancake and sausage feed at Gunflint Pines. The skijor race begins at Cross River at 10 a.m. and finishes at Gunflint Pines. At 12 p.m. the sled dog race begins with a mass sourdough start on Gunflint Lake. Teams are expected in at the Trail Center Lodge finish line around 2 – 4 p.m. At the finish line there will be a bonfire, hot dog/marshmallow roast, and a party tent sponsored by Sarah and the gang at Trail Center. Prizes will be awarded sometime after 5 p.m. and there will be more celebrating with a dance featuring D’Merritt.
All the silliness is for a supremely good reason. The Mush for a Cure proceeds are donated to institutions helping in the fight against breast cancer. Organizer Mary Black said, “Mush for a Cure is not a race, it is a fun event to celebrate the sport of dog mushing and to cap off a winter of hard work, training and racing while raising funds to find a cure for breast cancer.”
In 2011 participants raised over $28,000 in pledges and a check for $32,000 was sent to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. “To date Mush for a Cure has donated an amazing $100, 000,” said Black. “Our goal this year is to raise another $30,000!”
If you would like to help Mush for a Cure reach its 2012 goal, donations are now being accepted online at:
If you want to see Dennis Neitzke’s hair dyed pink in the “Color Me Pink” challenge, visit
www.active.com/donate/MushforaCure2012/DennisNeitzkeColorMe.
Leave a Reply