A whimsical event for an extremely worthy cause, the fourth annual Mush for a Cure (MFAC ) will be held March 12 – 13, 2010, with 33 racers signed up to make the trek from Gunflint Pines Resort on Gunflint Lake to Trail Center Lodge on Poplar Lake. While the race collects money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation—$25,000 in 2009—it is also a celebration of life.
Unlike the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, the UP200 or the famed Iditarod, the Mush for a Cure is a fun run— there is no prize purse for the first musher across the finish line, but there is plenty of fun for all participants. However, part of the fun is the teasing that takes part leading up to the race. Dave Lundberg of Monticello, Minnesota is returning for his second MFAC with his Little Mountain Siberians. Lundberg touched on the meaning of the event and added a little “trash talk” when he told organizers, “Most everyone has been touched in some way by someone with breast cancer and when you are, you always wish there was something more you could do…this is one way. Now, I realize this is not supposed to be a race but I have to tell you that I do like my chances against a bunch of pink-clad squirrel chasers.”
People can participate in a number of ways—by entering a pink-clad dog team in the 22 mile run, by skijoring 3.5 miles in pink, by eating dinner and dancing at Trail Center on Friday or Saturday night or just by coming out to cheer on the dogs and people in the Mush for a Cure. So don your best pink outfit and head up the Gunflint Trail to take part in the merriment.
There are numerous viewing points, but the most exciting will certainly be the start at Gunflint Pines, which this year will also be the finish of the skijor event. Skijoring is basically mushing on skis—anyone who has not seen this sport will surely want to come watch. The MFAC skijor gives beginners a great opportunity to try racing in a non-competitive event. Mark Luttinen of Roseville, Minnesota, is taking that opportunity. He told organizers, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’ve trained my hunting dogs to pull and have picked up a nice pre-trained sled dog.”
Luttinen, like so many of the other participants, said he has lost family members to cancer and is happy to do his part in the effort to find a cure.
The 3.5-mile skijoring event will start at Cross River at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13. Racers will arrive at Gunflint Pines before the start of the Mush for a Cure sled dog run.
The sled dog run will have a sourdough, or sleeping bag, start. All of the mushers, in flamboyant pink—or at least with an accent of pink—will be in sleeping bags with their boots off. When the gun goes off at 12 noon, mushers must put on their boots, hitch up their teams and pull the hook to set off down Gunflint Lake.
Mushing fans can also catch the action along the way at the Gunflint Lake landing, the Little Iron Lake Picnic area, the west end of Old Gunflint Trail, the east end of the Old Gunflint Trail, and the Poplar Lake landing, and of course at the finish line at Trail Center.
Each year more fun activities are added to the Mush for a Cure and this year is no exception. In addition to a Friday night, March 12 pasta feed (with pink pasta, of course) at Trail Center Restaurant and the Cut for a Cure with Andrea Peterson of Studio 61, there is a Pink Prom! At 8:00 p.m. there will be a Grand March and a Prom King and Queen will be selected. After the Bald, the Brave and the Beautiful excitement (read about this event on facing page), everyone is invited to dance the night away with a DJ spinning records.
Again this year there will be the traditional finisher party at Trail Center, which just about lasts all day. When teams start coming in at about 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., there will be a bonfire, hot dog/ marshmallow roast under the party tent, sponsored by Sarah Hamilton and the crew at Trail Center.
At 5:00 p.m., a prize will be awarded to the participant who raised the most money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year’s winner was Jenny Beal of Blanchard, Oklahoma. Beal participates to support her mother, mother-in-law, and aunt who are all breast cancer survivors. An added incentive for Beal this year—her sister-in-law has been diagnosed with breast cancer. “I’m excited to come and participate in support of my sister-in-law,” she told MFAC organizers.
The second place fundraiser in 2009, Jessica Berg-Collman of Grand Marais, will undoubtedly challenge Beal. Berg-Collman is participating again this year in honor of her mentor and friend, Jenny Atkinson of Grand Marais, world champion log-roller, who is battling breast cancer.
The evening will also include fun trophies for special awards, such as the DORK award, which goes to the person who has the biggest blunder on the trail. Janet Martens of Brule, Wisconsin, the “winner” of the award last year will be back. Martens took a tumble at the start of the race last year, creating quite a sight with her pink fairy wings!
The event wraps up with terrific music with Cook County’s Most Wanted: Rod ‘n
Real.
Come out and join the merriment in celebration of the money raised to find a cure for breast cancer.
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