DREAM Adaptive Recreation hosts fourth annual Shred-a-Thon
JULIE ENGLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
Sylvia Lundquist, Kate Cooke and Chance Cooke take a breather at the Shred-a-Thon on Saturday. (Photo provided)
DREAM Adaptive's Trevor Hildebrand photo bombs some party goers at the Shred-a-Thon last Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Shred-a-Thon participants enjoy the after party on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Matt Sather is greeted by Trevor Hildebrand and his cowbells after a day on the slopes during the Shred-a-Thon. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A skiing zebra shares a laugh with a DREAM staff member on Saturday on the Big Mountain. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A colorful Shred-a-Thon participant pauses to boogie before joining the party Saturday on the Big Mountain. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
David Steele, Chance Cooke and Jeff Brown walk to the Shred-a-Thon party after Cooke and Brown completed 11 uphill laps in 10 hours on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
After completing 11 uphill laps in 10 hours, Janelle Smiley hams it up with DREAM Adaptive's Trevor Hildebrand at the Shred-a-thon party Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Winner of the adult downhill vert, Jennie Bradford Rosenjack, is all smiles alongside Lynn Foster at the Shred-a-Thon on the Big Mountain Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Steve Shea brightens up the Shred-a-Thon celebration on Saturday with his shiny outfit and friendly smile. (Photo provided)
A furry Viking prepares to party after skiing all day at the Shred-a-Thon on the Big Mountain. (Photo provided)
Julie Engler covers Whitefish City Hall and writes community features for the Whitefish Pilot. She earned master's degrees in fine arts and education from the University of Montana. She can be reached at jengler@whitefishpilot.com or 406-882-3505. | April 5, 2023 1:00 AM
Last Saturday, folks on the Big Mountain witnessed a skiing zebra, some funky chickens and a furry Viking flying downhill, along with about a dozen robust souls making uphill laps. They were all participating in DREAM Adaptive Recreation’s fourth annual Shred-a-Thon, the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year.
The Shred-a-Thon is a full-day event at Whitefish Mountain Resort for all abilities and, while the vertical challenge is optional, prizes are awarded for the most funds raised and most vertical feet shredded.
“Saturday was an incredible day with high energy, snow and sun, and a great way for us to put an exclamation point on DREAM's 36th winter season of life-changing programs at Whitefish Mountain Resort,” said DREAM Adaptive Executive Director Julie Tickle.
DREAM Adaptive Recreation is a nonprofit based in Whitefish, with a mission to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreation programs. Annually, DREAM serves over 300 participants through over 1,300 lessons in alpine skiing, snowboarding and Nordic skiing, mountain biking, paddle sports and water sports.
This year, the Shred-a-Thon included 65 individual fundraisers. As of Tuesday, the total raised was $54,688. Donations will continue to be accepted until April 15 at www.dreamadaptive.org/shred.
The top individual fundraising effort belonged to Chance Cooke who raised $7,801 thus far, and the top fundraising team was Team Kate Cooke, with $10,411, smashing their goal of 10K.
A special spirit award was given to DREAM’s Trevor Hildebrand for his encouraging energy and wild enthusiasm that embodies the spirit of the Shred-a-Thon.
Vertical Challenge Winners:
Top Master’s Vert: Jerry Mahugh & Bob Roff (tie)
Top Adult Vert: Jennifer Bradford Rosenjack, who rode Chair Four 38 times.
Top Teen/Youth: Oliver Kress & Logan Ruggiero (tie)
Uphill: Chance Cooke, Jeff Brown, and Janelle Smiley, who each completed 11 laps in 10 hours.
