24 Hours of Schweitzer top finishers, awards announced
SANDPOINT — The hills were alive with record-breaking performances at the “24 Hours of Schweitzer” fundraiser March 22-23. The fifth annual event brought in over $123,000 that will directly benefit cystinosis research — bringing the 24 Hours for Hank fundraising total to more than $600,000 in just five years.
Nearly 100 skiers and boarders between the ages of 4 to 68 participated in the event, some travelling from as far as California and Colorado. The ski relay concluded with an auction, dinner and awards party attended by 265 people. Many were dressed in Bavarian and Alpine costumes to celebrate the event’s “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of a Cure” theme
The annual event was held in honor of 6-year-old Hank Sturgis of Sandpoint, who has the rare, fatal disease cystinosis that affects only 500 people nationwide. All money raised benefits 24 Hours for Hank, a Sandpoint foundation established to raise money for cystinosis research and treatment.
Since 2008, more than $600,000 has been raised locally for the national Cystinosis Research Foundation to help find a cure for this extremely rare, genetic disease that slowly destroys every organ in the body including the kidneys, liver, eyes, muscles, thyroid and brain.
Donations are still being accepted and can be made online or via the mail. For more information, call 208-610-2131 or visit www.24hoursforhank.org.
2013 Stats and
Award Winners
Total participants: 96 (28 women; 68 men; includes nine youth under age 10)
Total teams: 24
Total solo participants: 12
Total runs completed: 8,111
Total vertical feet covered: 8,081,284
Most Runs Solo:
• First place: Matt Gillis of Sandpoint, who completed 220 runs; new record, first place.
• Second place: Eric Jensen of Sandpoint, who completed 215 runs; new record, second place.
• Third place: Collin Davis of Altadena, Calif., who completed 204 runs; new record, third place.
Most runs
three-person team:
• First place: Team DAMACO, which completed 542 runs. Team members included Cory Lindholm, Dante Rumore and Mac Miltz of Sandpoint; new record, first place.
• Second place: Team Tres Loquitos, which completed 295 runs. Team members included Anavel Boge, Laura Boge and Michael Boge of Sandpoint.
• Third place: Team Sharp Edges, which completed 51 runs. Team members included Jason Gallaher, Adam Sharp and Heidi Sharp of Sandpoint.
Most runs
four-person team
• First place: Team Hank E. Panky, which completed 767 runs. Team members included Mark Hammond, Rick Knott, Jeremy Deming and Wade Jacklin of Coeur d’Alene; new record, first place.
• Second place: Team C.A.M.O, which completed 614 runs. Team members included Amber Roberts, Andy Gion, Matt Williams and Brent Otter of Sandpoint; new record, second place.
• Third place: Team The Idgits, which completed 591 runs. Team members included Finan Lund, Kjetil Lund, Peik Lund and Max Edmundson of Sandpoint; new record, third place.
Most runs relay team
(new this year;
one timing chip per team)
• First Place: Team Mashing Tater, which completed 212 runs. Team members included Timothy Lewis and David May of Spokane.
• Second place: Team EzyDog, which completed 209 runs. Team members included John Hatcher and Jacob Styer of Sandpoint.
• Third place: Team Blue Eyed Bombers, which completed 158 runs. Team members included Angie Quinn and Korah Quinn of Sandpoint.
Top Individual Fundraiser
(Over Age 18)
• Grand prize: Matt Gillis of Sandpoint, who raised $27,121.
• First place: Zack Nees of Sandpoint, who raised $1,800.
• Second place: Kristy Rief of Sandpoint, who raised $1,313.
• Third place: Mac Miltz of Sandpoint, who raised $1,193.
Top Individual Fundraiser
(Under Age 18)
• First place: Sam Timmons, 8, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., who raised $4,350.
• Second place: Slate Fragoso, 8, of Sandpoint, who raised $3,508.
• Third place: Crosby Schmidt, 6, of Sandpoint, who raised $970.
Top Team Fundraiser:
• First place: Team Hank E. Panky, which raised $10,094. ; Team members included Mark Hammond, Rick Knott, Jeremy Deming and Wade Jacklin of Coeur d’Alene; new record.
• Second place: Team Davis, which raised $4,336. Team members included Collin Davis, Kirstin Davis, Henry Davis and Lily Davis of Altadena, Calif.
• Third place: Team Full McCabe, which raised $3,215. Team members included Zack Nees (Sandpoint), Jason Nees (Bellevue, Wash.), Eric Frickle (Spokane) and Cody Lile (Sandpoint).
Most runs
kids 12 and under:
• First place: Kjetil Lund, 10, of Sandpoint, with 133 runs; new record.
• Second place: Slate Fragoso, 8, of Sandpoint, with 118 runs.
• Third place: Crosby Schmidt, 6, of Sandpoint, with 104 runs.
Youngest male participant
• Calvin Schmidt, age 4 of Sandpoint, who completed 33 runs.
Youngest female participant
• Laura Boge, 8, of Sandpoint, who completed 101 runs; new record.
Oldest participant
• Linda Currie, 67, of San Diego, Calif., who completed 15 runs.
Best Costume
• Royce Sharp of Sandpoint (youth); Monica Gallaher of Sandpoint (adult)
Number of Volunteers: 56
Major Sponsors: Subaru of America, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Xerox, TraskBritt Law Firm, Litehouse Foods, EzyDog, Centennial Distribution, Pita Pit, Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, Peak Sand & Gravel, SimulStat Incorporated, Interstate Concrete & Asphalt, Noodle Express, Rockstar, Powder Hound Pizza, Pucci’s Pub, Alpine Shop, Sports Creel, Bonner General Hospital, VEHRS and Clif Bar.