Ski 4 A Cure
Ski 4 A Cure
HoliMont Ski Club to Host Fun Day to Benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Combine the desire to help support cancer research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute with your love for skiing/snowboarding and the natural beauty of the HoliMont Ski Club from 9:00am-4:30pm on Thursday, February 16 at the inaugural Ski 4 A Cure event, presented by the Ski Club of Lockport (SCOL).
Inspired by The Ride For Roswell summertime cycling event, SCOL board member Tom Doran of Amherst created a day centered around outdoor winter activities - where all members of the family would have the chance to participate and have fun together, regardless of ski/snowboard ability.
“We’re really looking forward to a unique event,” Doran said during a recent conversation. “We’ve planned an entire day’s worth of fun activities with the goal of bringing people together in a beautiful winter setting for this great cause.”
The $100 ticket for the Ski 4 A Cure fundraiser includes a lift pass, catered lunch, snowshoe/x-country skiing, a fun race, scavenger hunt and much more. The fun day officially begins at 10:00am with a colorful costume parade of cancer survivors, friends and families, all skiing and snowboarding together down the main hill at HoliMont.
“I saw a fundraising event like this at the Vail ski resort in Colorado,” Doran said. “It’s called “Pink Vail” - it’s a big festival with thousands of people all wearing pink and having fun to raise money for their local hospital out there.”
Parade participants will be urged to wear colors that represent the kind of cancer they were treated for and the plan is for the entire procession to start at the top of Exhibition Run and work its way downward like a rainbow-colored snake, in a serpentine pattern that will not only be fun to be part of, but should also be great to watch for spectators in the chalet at the bottom of hill. SCOL members will be staffing the various activities that are planned throughout the day all over the ski area.
The ‘Bombardier Ball Drop’ is sure to be a fan-favorite event, as it will allow participants to “purchase” numbered balls that they will then drop from the chairlift (hopefully accurately) as their chair passes over a basket down on the hill. Prizes will go to the best “bombardiers” of the day.
There will also be a self-timed race, where competitors will be allowed two timed runs down a slalom course. The winner(s) of this contest will be those skiers or snowboarders who come closest to matching the times of their two runs. Being the fastest in this race will not necessarily win you the prize!
As this will be the first year for the Ski 4 A Cure event, organizers hope to attract at least 300 skiers/snowboarders to HoliMont for the day and are quick to point out there will be fun activities going on throughout the day, even if you don’t ski or snowboard at all. HoliMont will have snowshoes available for those who choose to navigate the great outdoors without the thrill of slipping or sliding their way down a steep slope. Cross-country skis will also be available with miles of beautiful wooded trails, all waiting for you to explore at your own pace.
For anyone looking to demo the best and brightest new equipment, the Boss Wrench at The City Garage of Ellicottville will have his crew of expert ski technicians on-hand in the tent at the bottom of the Exhibition Chairlift to answer your questions and get your feet on the gear that will surely bring a smile to your face.
Dina’s Restaurant will be catering everyone’s lunchtime feast in the main chalet, where there will also be a 50/50 drawing and basket raffles that include donations from local Ellicottville businesses.
Those interested in purchasing a ticket for the first-ever Ski 4 A Cure should go to skicluboflockport.com, click on ‘Ski 4 A Cure’ in the main menu and follow the instructions to buy an event ticket and/or donate directly to Roswell Park through links on that page. No donation is too small. Every dollar adds up to something greater than anyone could accomplish alone. Help make an impact in the fight against cancer!