The Grand Traverse has a proud history of supporting the Crested Butte Nordic Center and other nonprofit organizations. Over the years, many teams have chosen to make their Grand Traverse experience more meaningful by racing on behalf of a charity.
This year, in continuation of the success last year, the Grand Traverse has reserved a number of event slots specifically for teams racing for a charity of their choice. Each team has committed to raising at least $1,500 for their entry. A portion of the money raised will pay for the team’s entry, the remaining amount raised will go to their charity.
Listed below are 2013 Charity Teams with links to their fundraising sites and information on their charity of choice. There was an overwhelming response this year; more than triple the number of teams that raced for a charity last year. The Grand Traverse is honored to partner with these dedicated athletes and their charities.
Team Name: Two Pinheads
Team Members:Bryan Mazaika & Alex Stevenson
Charity:Knox Frank Memorial Scholarship and the Crested Butte Avalanche Center
Team Statement: Our goal is to support the efforts of avalanche education and awareness within the Gunnison Valley for both novice and experienced backcountry enthusiasts. The Knox Frank Memorial Scholarship is a new scholarship fund organized by Crested Butte Mountain Guides to provide money to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford an avalanche education course. While the Crested Butte Avalanche Center provides free daily avalanche bulletins and education to the Gunnison Valley.
Goal:$3,000
Amount Raised To Date:
To learn more about this charity, go to:
Knox Frank Memorial Scholarship: http://crestedbutteguides.com/page.cfm?pageid=22413
Crested Butte Avalanche Center: http://www.cbavalanchecenter.org/
To Donate: Make checks payable to Crested Butte Mountain Guides and mail to Crested Butte Mountain Guides c/o Knox Frank Memorial Scholarship OR Crested Butte Avalanche Center P.O. Box 1718 Crested Butte, CO 81224
Team Name: “No Phat Chicks”
Team Members: Grete Gansauer & Zachary Miller
Charity: Peaks for Peace, which benefits the Children’s Hospital Burn Camp Program
Team Statement: Zach and Grete are racing to benefit Children’s Hospital Camps for children who suffer from burn injuries. The camps connect victims to eachother and the outdoors in a fun and safe environment. Onward and Upward!
Goal: Raise as much money and awareness for the camp as we can! Another personal goal would be to finish the Grand Traverse…
Amount Raised to Date: $525
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.peaksforpeace.com
To Donate: Make checks payable to: Children’s Hospital Burn Camp Program and mail to Grete Gansauer P.O.Box 1025, Crested Butte, CO 81224
(Grete will be collecting the money to donate as a lump sum in the spring.)
Team Names: F#*k Cancer (Uno y Dos)
Team Members: Ellis Bennett & Haley Tamberi (Team Uno) and Hank Bennett & Greg Bennett (Team Dos)
Charity: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
Team Statement: We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in honor of our beloved grandfather Stephen Kirkby Henkel who passed away on November 25, 2012 due to complications with Multiple Myeloma, a rare form of cancer. Stephen Henkel, known as Hunk to his family, was an avid outdoorsmen with a passion for skiing that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. In his honor, we are going to compete in The Grand Traverse following in his legacy, Hunk style.
Goal: $8000
Amount Raised To Date: $9,880
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.themmrf.org
To Donate: Make checks payable to: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and mail to: Ellis Bennett P.O. Box 2311 Crested Butte, Colorado 81224 or donate online at our website at http://www.active.com/donate/2013mmrfYOR/TraverseforMMRF
Team Name: Gunnison Valley Special Needs Network for Children
Team Members: David Gross & Rob Mahedy
Charity: Gunnison Valley Special Needs Network for Children
Team Statement: We are raising money and awareness for this newly formed non-profit. My son Benjamin lives in our great community and has benefited from special needs programs. Myself as well as other parents have expressed interest in starting a non-profit to help our families with special needs kids thrive. Please check out our Facebook page for more information: Gunnison Valley Special Needs Network for Children. Thanks for the help and watch us grow!
Goal: $ 5000.00
Amount Raised To Date: $ 550.00
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.gvsnn.org
To Donate: Make checks payable to: Gunnison Valley Special Needs Network for Children and mail to: Gunnison Valley Special Needs Network, PO Box 4075 Crested Butte, Colorado 81224
Team Name: Front Range Freaks
Team Members: Stephanie Maltarich & Kirsten Turner
Charity: New York City Outward Bound Schools-Channel View High School
Team Statement: We are racing to support New York City Outward Bound, specifically Channel View High School. After Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, Channel View was in one of the hardest hit areas in the Far Rockaways. School was cancelled for two weeks and students were then transferred to a school nine miles away with zero resources. On the first day back, only 150 of 664 students were in attendance and the whereabouts of many students where unknown. It will take a lot of time for Channel View to get back on its feet and the school needs tremendous and continued support. Stephanie is an instructor for New York City Outward Bound so this cause and the students of Channel View are very near to her heart.
Goal: $1,500
Amount Raised To Date: $1540
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.nycoutwardbound.org
To Donate: Make checks payable to: New York City Outward Bound Schools and mail to New York City Outward Bound Schools ATTN: Paola Vita, 29-46 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY, 11101 (write “Grand Traverse” in the subject line) OR visit: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/stephaniemaltarich/elkmountaingrandtraverse
(Please don’t donate on NYCOBS page or we won’t know how much we have raised for this event!)
Team Name: Shake N’ Bake
Team Members: Scott Krankkala & Reid Pletcher
Charity: Western State Colorado University Mountain Rescue Team
Team Statement: The Western State Mountain Rescue team is a completely volunteer team based in Gunnison Colorado that performs Search and Rescue throughout the county and the state of Colorado free of charge.
Goal: $1500
Amount Raised To Date:
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: http://www.western.edu/student-life/wp/wsc-mountain-rescue-team
To Donate: Make checks payable to: Western State Colorado University Mountain Rescue Team and mail to Western State Colorado University Mountain Rescue Team (Team Shake N’ Bake), P.O. Box 1741 Gunnison, CO 81230
Team Name: FD Catalysts
Team Members: Shane Sigle & Max Nuttleman
Charity: First Descents
Team Statement: Raising money to provide outdoor adventures for young adults with cancer. Your dollars go towards us challenging, supporting, promoting and introducing these adults to life-changing experiences in the outdoors.
Team URL: http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2013/fd/ElkMountainsGrandTraverse/
Goal: $1,500
Amount Raised to Date: $1,450
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.FirstDescents.org
To Donate: Make checks payable to: First Descents and mail to First Descents 767 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 (with team name “FD Catalysts” in memo line)
First Descents team website: http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2013/fd/ElkMountainsGrandTraverse
Team Name: Randon00bs
Team Members: Jason Holton & Patrick Erley
Charity: Western State Colorado University Mountain Rescue team
Team Statement: Jason and Pat are both graduates of Western State College, and dedicated members of the Western State Mountain Rescue team. We are committed to not only doing our best in this historic race, but also to raise money and awareness for this amazing team of volunteers that are so vital for the safety of recreationalists in the Gunnison Valley. We would love your support, both financially and otherwise, throughout our journey in the grand traverse!
Goal: At least $1,500
Amount Raised To Date: $2,020
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.western.edu/student-life/wp/wsc-mountain-rescue-team
To Donate: Please visit: http://www.youcaring.com/other/Raising-Money-for-Western-State-Mountain-Rescue-through-the-Grand-Traverse/35741
Team Name: Cancer Climber
Team Members: Garrison Garcia & Sean Swarner
Charity: Cancer Climber Association
Team Statement: The mission of Cancer Climber is to help those touched by cancer by focusing on living an active, healthy lifestyle. The Cancer Climber Association serves its mission through inspirational stories, adventure grants, a mobile camp, and personal visits to patients by survivors. CCA was founded in 2001 by two-time terminal cancer survivor and elite mountaineer, Sean Swarner. Garrison Garcia, also a two-time cancer survivor, was awarded CCA’s Adventure Grant to allow him to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Keep climbing!
Goal: $5,000
Amount Raised To Date: $1,020
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.cancerclimber.org
To Donate: Please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/cancerclimber
Team Name: Big City Mountaineers
Team Members: Alice Hill & Nicole Blaser
Charity: Big City Mountaineers
Team Statement: Nicole and Alice strongly believe in the ability for the wilderness to facilitate personal growth and leadership in ways not otherwise possible in the frontcountry. Big City Mountaineers provides this opportunity for under-resourced urban youth-at-risk in Colorado and beyond!
Goal: $2000
Amount Raised To Date: $2,263
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.bigcitymountaineers.org
To Donate: P lease visit: http://www.summitforsomeone.org/donate?page=4&climber=8596
Team Name: TEAM CANCER SUCKS
Team Members: Mark Judson & Kyle Judson (father & son)
Charity: Shining Stars Foundation
Team Statement: Another New Year, another hangover engulfing your morning. So… As you lay there contemplating why you depleted your bank account to feel this way, I ask one thing. Was it worth it? Probably. But what if you didn’t have a choice? Everyday kids wake up feeling worse than you do now because of a terminal illness or the treatments they endure to try to survive. My dad and I are participating in The Elk Mountains Grand Traverse again this year. But this time to raise money for the Shining Stars foundation. We’re starting a new year which is traditionally a time of change and moving forward. So I ask you to pull out your wallets one more time to help me help these kids. $10 or $15 goes a long way and is probably just a fraction of what most of you spent last night. Please click the link below and donate what you can!! We are grateful for anything you can give and it will better the lives of these kids!!! Please Donate!!!
Goal: $3,000
Amount Raised to Date: $3,118
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.shiningstarsfoundation.org
To Donate: Please visit: http://www.shiningstarsfoundation.org/events/team-cancer-sucks/
Team Name: 10 Fingers 10 Toes
Team Members: Clayton Freeman & George Braun
Charity: First Descents and National Brain Tumor Society
Team Statement: We are raising money for two great charities which are helping patients fight cancer in both body and soul: the National Brain Tumor Society and First Descents. In particular, we are racing in honor of George’s mother who is currently battling Glioblastoma and who has been a source of endless love, joy and inspiration to her family and friends her entire life. We are bringing her joyful spirit and love of life to the mountains of Colorado as we ski/suffer 40 miles overnight in the cold from Crested Butte to Aspen in the Grand Traverse.
Goal: Finish the Grand Traverse Safely and with a Smile, Raise $4000 for our selected charities
Amount Raised To Date:
To Learn More About These Charities, Go To: www.firstdescents.org and www.braintumor.org
To Donate: Make checks out to either First Descents OR National Brain Tumor Society and mail to: Clayton Freeman 628 Clayton Street Denver, CO 80206 (Clayton will collect the checks and mail to each charity.)
Team Name: Bearfight!
Team Members: Lindsay Records & Nicholas Matisse
Charity: American Whitewater
Team Statement: American Whitewater is the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States, and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve the goals within its mission. Additionally, AW is currently working to establish recreational flow levels throughout the Gunnison river drainage, directly improving the boating opportunities in our backyard! Lindsay and I hope you will join us in supporting this amazing non-profit, and maybe next spring we’ll see you on the river!
Goal: The sky is the limit!
Amount Raised to Date:
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.Americanwhitewater.org
To Donate: Make checks payable to American Whitewater and mail to Nicholas Matisse, po 2689, Crested Butte, CO 81224.
Or, donate online at americanwhitewater.org, just make sure to include our team name in the comment section!
Team Name: “Life Turns Me On”
Team Members: Seth Tucker & Alex Pogue
Charity: Life Turns
Team Statement: We will be traversing to benefit Crested Butte non-profit Life Turns, which provides free outdoor camps for children facing medical and traumatic challenges. Started in 2008 by skier Max Mancini, Life Turns offers campers a chance to laugh, play, and build friendships in a nurturing and inspiring outdoor environment. Week-long summer and winter camps feature skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding, camping, and river rafting (and many more activities!), and are provided at no cost to children’s families. We are really excited to go on this grand adventure for such an awesome cause, and would be grateful for any help you might be able to give! To donate and track our training, please visit our website: www.rally.org/traversingforkids
Goal: $3000
Amount raised to date: $3,160
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.lifeturns.org
To Donate: Please visit www.rally.org/traversingforkids or make checks payable to Life Turns and mail to Alexandra Pogue PO Box 2641 Crested Butte, CO 81224
Team Name: Team Tortuga
Team Members: Jacob Anderson and Steven Mace
Charity: First Descents
Team Statement: Were hoping to raise 1,500 dollars for First Descents, an amazing program that empowers young cancer crushers through kayaking, climbing and surfing!
Goal: $1,500
Amount Raised to Date: $2,315
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: http://firstdescents.org/team-fd
To Donate: http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2013/fd/ElkMountainsGrandTraverse/spoonberg/
Team Name: Team Lanky
Team Members: Zach Via & Jarral Ryter
Charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF
Team Statement: We are racing to help fund research to find a cure for type 1 (or juvenile diabetes). A person with Type 1 diabetes has lost the ability to produce insulin. Without taking shots many times a day to try and balance the food they eat they will slowly starve to death. Diabetes also leads to many complications such as blindness, neuropathy among others if not treated carefully. If too much insulin is taken or not enough food is eaten one may experience low “blood sugar” and pass out or go into a coma. One of our team is diabetic but that is not the reason we are doing this. We want to help all the children that are diagnosed every day. A good friend’s child was recently diagnosed. He is 8. Let’s try to help him and find a cure!
Goal: $1500
Amount Raised to Date:
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: http://www.crowdrise.com/grandtraverse or http://livethinline.blogspot.com/
To Donate: http://www.crowdrise.com/grandtraverse
Team Name: Searchlight NYC
Team Members: Wade Davis & Eric Zinterhofer
Charities: World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Nature Conservancy
Team Statement: The effects of global warming are felt in places we love, from the shores of New York to the Rocky Mountains. Donations will go to organizations that are helping to sustain our planet, including the World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Nature Conservancy.
Goal: $10,000
Team Name: ALZ Stars Colorado
Team Members: Patience Baldwin and Matt Seim
Charity: Alzheimer’s Association
Team Statement: We are racing in the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse this spring to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. This event is in honor of Matt’s Dad, Lionel Seim (who will be providing race support again this year), and in memory of Matt’s Grandpa, Edward Seim, and Matt’s good friend’s Dad, Hugh Hunter Sr.
Goal: $1500
Amount Raised to Date: $1,185
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: http://www.alz.org/co/
To Donate: http://act.alz.org/goto/GrandTraverse2013
Team Name: BCM
Team Members: Bill Hanson & Brian DeCamp
Charities: Big City Mountaineers
Team Statement: When you take a kid out of the city and drop them into the wilderness, you’ve changed them forever. Think of the first time you ever ventured into the wild and what an impact that made on your life. Give that experience to someone else who wouldn’t have that chance without your help.
Goal: $1,500
Amount Raised to Date: $1,865
To Learn More About This Charity, Go To: www.bigcitymountaineers.org
To Donate: www.summitforsomeone.org
