It is the mission of Mush For a Cure to raise awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for breast cancer research through annual pledge/tribute runs by dog team.  Although Mush for a Cure pledge/tribute runs are not limited to women, it is our goal to highlight the women in the sport of dog mushing.

What is the Mush For a Cure? Mush For a Cure is a non-competitive sled dog FUNdraiser with proceeds donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Mush For a Cure is not a race, it is a fun event to celebrate the sport of dog mushing and to cap off a winter of hard work, training and racing while raising funds to find a cure for breast cancer. The minimal entry fee to participate is to cover the costs of insurance, trail permitting, etc.  Participants can choose to get pledges above and beyond the entry fee. Pledge forms are available upon request or by scrolling down to the link at the bottom of this page and clicking on the link.

The organizers are proud to announce that the 2010 Mush For a Cure is honoring Jenny Atkinson, 8-time log rolling and boom running World Champion!

36-year-old Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer in December. Since then, Jenny has been facing off with this disease head-on. In her own words from her Caring Bridge website, Jenny says about being diagnosed with breast cancer:

“I figured they would tell me it was from nursing and the lump will go away when I was finished.  After all, I am very healthy, 36 years old, and have no family history of breast cancer.  I don’t do anything on the “avoid” list and I do everything on the “good for you list” so I wasn’t worried at all.  The doctor told me she was certain it was benign, not to think about it, have a great trip, and get a mammogram when I got back.  I wanted the journey to end, but little did I know it was truly just beginning”.

Jenny, from all of us at Mush For a Cure,  your story is inspiring and we are honored to have you and your family with us this year. We will have you in our thoughts and prayers!

GET YOUR PINK ON…MUSH FOR A CURE 2010 WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MARCH 12TH AND 13TH

FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH (all activities are at Trail Center Lodge)

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Pre-Registration for the mushers that are in town and have their pledges ready. Registration coordinator Phyllis and her crew would appreciate pre-registering as many teams as possible on Friday night. That way she and her volunteers aren’t rushing to tally at the last minute and you won’t have to stand outside the fish house on Saturday!

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Cut For a Cure Andrea Peterson from Studio 61 Hair in Grand Marais is back with chair and shears. Haircuts are $10 each with monies going to Mush For a Cure!

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Pink Pasta Party open to the general public wanting to meet the mushers running on Saturday that are in town and available on Friday night. Cost $6.00, MFAC participants eat free!

5:00 – 9:00 p.m.: The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful(?) Competition. We have a few brave souls that are willing to literally “put their heads on the line” by having their heads shaved if enough money is raised! There are two competitions going on at once…the man who raises the most money in each competition gets to “take it all off” (their hair that is). You don’t have to wait until Friday night, send in your vote now. Make your check out to Mush For a Cure and put in the memo “BBB and the name of the guy you would MOST LIKE TO SEE HAVE THEIR HEAD SHAVED. The contestants are:

Ring #1
Cook County Sheriff, MARK “I Don’t Want to be a Cueball” FALK
vs.
Chief Deputy, LEIF “Remind Me Again, Why I Said I’d Do This” LUNDE

Ring #2
Gunflint Trail VFD Chief MIKE “Good Thing I Sleep With My Hat On“ PROM
vs.
Deputy Chief, BOB “I’m Good Looking Enough, I Don’t Need Hair” BAKER

Shhhh, don’t tell them but these guys don’t know that if enough money is raised, Mary and Sue will have ALL their heads shaved!

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.: NEW THIS YEAR…Pink Prom!!!!!!! at 8:00 there will be a Grand March for everyone who wishes to attend The Pink Prom. We’ll have a band playing music as an appetizer to Saturday night’s Finisher’s Party.

9:00 p.m.: Pink Prom King and Queen Crowning come and see who is most popular in pink and voted King and Queen. While the royalty is enjoying their victory dance, the Bald, Brave and Beautiful monies will be tallied. (King and Queen get “first shave” on the heads of the BB & B competitors)

9:30 p.m.: The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful HEAD SHAVING!!!! If enough money is raised, all BB&B participants will have their heads shaved with he who raises the most monies sporting a PINK MOHAWK for the rest of the evening.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13TH

9:00 a.m. – 11:30: Musher check-in/Registration and Pancake Breakfast at Gunflint Pines.

11:00 a.m.: Musher Meeting at Gunflint Pines

12:00 noon: Sled Team Mass Sourdough Start for the Musher Obstacle Course through the campground. Since we can’t run the dogs, someone has to win the trophy for “First Team off Gunflint Lake”.

1:30: Funeral Procession to say our final goodbyes to Winter 2010. After the musher obstacle course is finished we will line up to drive to Trail Center with hazard lights flashing and everything. Dress your car/truck/dog truck, whatever in it’s finest pink and help us bury winter, once and for all!

2:00-?: FUN at Trail Center Join us for carnival games for the kids and more adult games. Get your teams together now for the 6-dog/dog-cart race, ice kayak race and anything else we can think of before 2:00 on Saturday. There will also be the finishers bonfire, hot dog/marshmallow roast and party tent sponsored by Sarah and the gang at Trail Center Lodge.

4:00′ish: Awards/Prizes Prize selection to largest pledge collector(s) in order, and fun trophies for special awards at the tent in front of Trail Center.

7:00-close: Finishers Dance Hang out on the Gunflint Trail for a great time with Sarah and the gang at Trail Center and your mushing friends and dance the night away to Cook County’s Most Wanted: Rod ‘n Real!

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