Ski 4 A Cure is Coming Back to HoliMont
Ski 4 A Cure is Coming Back to HoliMont
Event to Raise Money for Roswell Cancer Research Returns to HoliMont Ski Resort, February 16
Few things are better than a Friday on the slopes, but skiing or snowboarding for a good cause? Now that’s a day worth planning on! Returning for the second consecutive year, Ski 4 a Cure, which raises money for Roswell Comprehensive Cancer Center’s most pressing needs, is set for Friday, February 16th at HoliMont. Beginning at 9:30am, participants can enjoy a full day of skiing, food and fun games, all while supporting a great cause with an important local impact!
Tom Doran of the Ski Club of Lockport (SCOL) is working with a dedicated and talented committee of over twenty SCOL volunteers for the second year and is excited, along with the committee, to see this become an annual tradition that grows each year. The event, he said, was inspired by the Pink Vail event in Colorado, the world’s biggest ski day to conquer cancer. “Everyone was dressed in pink and there was a parade procession, all while raising funds for their cancer hospital,” said Doran. “We thought, ‘Why can’t we do something like that here?’”
SCOL is happy to once again partner with HoliMont, whom they credit as being a wonderfully supportive host. “Our goal is for this to be a family-friendly event, not just a competition,” he said. New for 2024, the event will include a videographer and a photographer to capture the fun and memories of Ski 4 a Cure.
This year, participants can sign in and receive their lift ticket and wristband from 8:30-9:30am in the Main Lodge (or late check-in from 9:30-noon). In addition to enjoying the slopes, participants can enjoy a wide range of activities, competitions and raffles all day long (9:30am-4:20pm). The City Garage will host free ski demos at the base of the Expo Chair/Main Lodge. “You can demo as many as you want, all day long! It’s great to try out different skis,” said Doran. “It’s unusual to have demos in mid-February; usually demo tents set up in December, but we didn’t have as much snow then.” A scavenger hunt list will be displayed, to photograph with your phone, at the registration table for the picture scavenger hunt from 9:30am-2:00pm. On the slopes, participants can search for items on the list and take a selfie with each item. Multiple winners can receive a grab-bag prize full of “swag” for most or all of the items!
At 10:00am, Ski 4 a Cure will host the parade for cancer fighters, survivors, family and friends down Expo Run. No sign-up is necessary; simply meet at the top of the run ready to ski or board, follow-the-leader down the hill. Wearing costumes, bibs, beads, or anything to display the colors associated with different types of cancers is encouraged! Prizes will be awarded for the most colorful costume/outfit.
For those who like to show off their competitive side, the bombardier game will take place on the Expo Chairlift from 9:30am-2:00pm. Gather up your tennis balls and drop them into the designated barrels while riding up the lift. Balls are $2 each or three for $5, and all proceeds go to Roswell Park’s greatest needs. From 11:00am-noon, the most consistent timed race will take place: Make two runs and try to match your times! Sign-ups are available in six different categories based on age and gender. The winners will have the most consistent time between the two runs. Prizes and awards will be announced in the Main Lodge beginning at 3:30pm. Other opportunities to win include basket raffle drawings and the 50/50 split raffle drawing from 3:30-5:00pm in the Main Lodge.
Ski or board all day (until 4:20pm), but don’t forget to make time for the catered lunch from noon-2:00pm. The menu includes beef on weck, homemade mac & cheese, homemade chips, garden salad, potato salad, lemonade and ice water. Tickets for this full day of fun are $115 each, which includes lift ticket, food and access to games and entertainment all day. Tickets are available now at www.holimont.com/events/ or on the day of the event.
For those who would like to support Ski 4 a Cure but are unable to participate in the event, there is a link on the event page to donate to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. For every dollar donated to Roswell for cancer research, the organization can leverage $23 in external grants toward that research, according to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation. For more information or to donate basket raffle items, please contact Tom Doran at tdoranwriter@gmail.com.