The participants in the Bald, Brave and Beautiful competition were great sports and allowed hair stylist Andrea Peterson (left) to shave their heads in front of the Mush for a Cure crowd at Windigo Lodge on Friday, March 7. (L-R) Peterson, Cory Christianson, Ana Genz, Craig Horak. All of them gave up their locks—and in Horak’s case, his beard—to raise money to fight breast cancer.
Everyone has been touched by cancer in their his or her life in some way and the silliness at the Mush for a Cure is a great way to celebrate its survivors—and to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer. This year’s event, held March 7-8, raised about $36,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
A large part of the money came from the Bald, Brave and Beautiful (BBB) head-shaving competition. In 2014, Mush for a Cure had its first ever woman in the Bald, Brave and Beautiful competition, Ana Genz. Ana is a 16-year breast cancer survivor and was the 2012 Mush for a Cure Honoree.
She bravely sat in the barber chair and had her lovely black hair cut— and shaved off. First her pretty pigtails were chopped off by friends (and saved to send to Locks of Love) and then she was shaved completely bald, her reward for raising over $5,000.
The other contestants in the BBB competition were Cory Christianson, fishing guide and Cook County News- Herald outdoors columnist, who raised over $1,500 and joining Cory in the challenge was Craig Horak, owner of Tire and Auto Lodge in Grand Marais, who increased his earnings by $550 when he told the crowd if they raised that much to make his total $2,500, he would also shave off his beard—and shave his chest. A man of his word, after the hat was passed and the money collected, he let himself be shorn.
The top fundraisers at the 2014 Mush for a Cure were Jessica Berg-Collman and Don Deckert. Deckert also won the “Pink Lantern.” The best-dressed sled dog was this adorable pup, owned by Lenny Wendel, who received a lovely trophy after the fun run.
The BBB was the culmination of the Friday festivities that started with a fabulous pasta dinner and Trail Center and ended with a Pink Zombie party at Windigo Lodge.
On Saturday, the bright white, ice-covered Gunflint Lake was highlighted pink with mushers, sled dogs and supporters as the fun run took place. After the fun run was finished, mushers were recognized. Although the Mush for a Cure is not really a race, but a fun run, the event does award a prize for the last musher in, similar to the “Red Lantern” award at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Earning the “Pink Lantern” for finishing last was Don Deckert, who also received a plaque Collman of Grand Marais, who raised an amazing $5,093.
for earning the highest number of pledges. MFAC organizer Sue Prom said, “That is really what counts, is the money raised.” Earning the highest dollar of pledges was once again Jessica Berg-
Congratulations to all the participants for another successful Mush for a Cure. See you in 2015!
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