SANDPOINT - In the end, Mother Nature was no match against the skill and determination of participants at the third-annual 24 Hours of Schweitzer ski relay, which featured stellar performances, new records and even a marriage proposal.

Through rain, snow, sun, fog and wind, more than 120 skiers and snowboarders of all ages braved the elements at the all-day, all-night event, which concluded with an auction/awards party attended by 250 people.

The fundraiser was held recently at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in honor of 4-year-old Hank Sturgis, of Sandpoint, who has the rare, fatal disease cystinosis that affects only 500 people in the entire country. Together, the events raised a record $90,000 toward a cure for the disease.

Skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders ranging in age from 4 to 69 raised pledges before hitting the slopes to see how many runs they could ski or board in 24 hours straight, beginning at 8:30 a.m. April 1 and ending at 8:30 a.m. April 2. Participants rallied all day and through the night to log 9,561 runs, or nearly 10,247,310 vertical feet, with help from Schweitzer crews and event volunteers who worked around the clock.

Two-time defending champion Matt Gillis, of Sandpoint, set another new record, skiing 202 runs, amassing a whopping 201,582 vertical feet in 24 hours straight and beating last year's performance by six runs. He also individually raised more than $16,000 in pledges, earning honors as the event's top fundraiser.