Above: Due to lack of snow, there were no dogs running at the fourth annual Mush for a Cure—but there were plenty of pink-clad mushers and friends competing in an impromptu musher Olympics. In the Saturday musher competition, Tara McGovern of Grand Marais, a member of the “Pink Paws” team, tries to muscle ahead of Nancy Lang of the Magenta Mammary Mushers (M3).
From its start on Friday, March 12 to its finish on Saturday, March 13, the fourth annual Mush for a Cure was fun—and it was a terrific fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, bringing in proceeds of at least $28,000, even though there was no snow. Event organizer Mary Black was delighted to announce the total this week, noting, “We were a little conservative in our goal for this year with the state of the economy, but our mushers came through once again.”
Jessica Berg-Collman, 13, of Grand Marais, was disappointed to not be able to take her Hot Dawg Kennel team on the 22-mile fun run, but she raised an amazing $10,390 with 175 pledges, earning the spot as top fundraiser for 2010. She has been a top fundraiser for several years and her commitment to Mush for a Cure was strengthened this year when her mentor, eight-time world champion log-roller Jenny Atkinson was diagnosed with breast cancer. The 2010 Mush for a Cure was dedicated to Jenny, who was an honored guest at the Friday night Pink Pasta Party at Trail Center.
Right: Top fundraiser once again was Jessica Berg-Collman, who this year raised money in honor of her logrolling coach and mentor, Jenny Atkinson, who is battling breast cancer. Jessica, 13, raised over $10,000 in pledges.
Her log-rolling fans and friends were glad to see Jenny and hear that she is facing the challenge of cancer with a positive attitude and the determination that makes her a worldchampion log-roller and boom runner.
At the Pink Prom Pasta Party, there was delicious spaghetti, a grand march of couples, coronation of a prom king and queen—Andrea Peterson and Adam Treful, and something not normally seen at a prom—the shaving of heads.
In “The Bald, The Brave, and The Beautiful” competition, four community leaders put their heads on the line. The plan was for two pairs of competitors to face off to see who received the most money. Whoever received the most money was willing to have his head shaved. However, unbeknownst to the competitors— Gunflint Trail Fire Chief Mike Prom, Gunflint Trail Assistant Fire Chief Bob Baker, Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk and Chief Deputy Leif Lunde—a major fundraising effort was underway, resulting in $5,000 being raised. The ensuing head shaving was done in front of the pink party-goers and provided much entertainment.
Below: Penguin Billy, well known to John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon mushers as the fellow who decorates his road crossing station with penguins, joined the Mush for a Cure this year with a plethora of pink penguins.
It was hard to believe anyone would have energy for anything the next day, but there was again a great turnout at Gunflint Pines for the actual Mush for a Cure on Saturday, March 13. Warm weather and rain caused the cancellation of the run and the skijor event, but not the fun, as organizers created an impromptu obstacle course of tasks all too familiar to mushers.
Teams were formed and named— there were six teams of six people (non-mushers were welcome). The team names were as creative as the costumes of the participants—the Tremendous Tatas, Let’s Play Doctor, Mammary Magenta Mushers (M3), Pink Paws, Boobie Brigade, and the Mad Trappers Trackers.
The relay race began with a shotgun start, not on Gunflint Lake as planned, but at the entrance to the Gunflint Pines campground, and team members dashed off to push a dog sled (with a pink penguin on board, courtesy of “Penguin Billy” of John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon fame); empty a strawbox; shovel dog poop; do some weight lifting with a dog food bag; and get water from the lake for the dogs.
Lower right: Winning the sled pushing, straw shoveling, poop scooping, watering and feeding competition was the team named Magenta Mammary Mushers (M3).
The triumphant team was the Mammary Magenta Mushers (M3)— but everyone who took part in the fourth annual Mush for a Cure went home with a smile on his or her face, knowing they had taken part in a meaningful and memorable event.
Many are marking the calendar now for next year’s event to be held March 11 -12, 2011.
Think pink!
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