Twenty five teams skied or snowboarded for 24 hours, fueled by the
memories of loved ones and cancer survivors, during the Hope on the Slopes
vertical challenge held at Mt. Hood Skibowl.

“The spirit of the participants and those who come to support them is
overwhelming and we are proud to host this event,” said Kirk Hanna,
owner/operator of Mt. Hood Skibowl.

Part competition and part party, 200-plus participants traveled more than
three million feet down the Upper and Lower Bowl in an effort to raise money
and awareness of the American Cancer Society during the Third Annual Hope
on the Slopes.

A total of $59,590 was raised including an $11,000 donation from Hanna,
whose father died of cancer.

Teams secured pledges and then made sure that at least one member was on
the slope throughout the 24-hour period, that started at 1 p.m., March 11,
and ended at 1 p.m., March 12. The top teams were “Beat This” which raised
$10,800,“Team Ragner” with $5,235 and “Team Doug,” with $3,671.

The top individual fundraiser was Savannah Furr, riding in memory of her
grandfather, Danny. She raised $2,450 in donations, followed by Paul Riopel,
in honor of friend Kendall with $2,400 and Anne Meixner, with $2,045, who
skied in memory of both her husband and her mother.

A highlight of the event was the evening Torchlight Parade, where 30 skiers
traveled in formation down the darkened Lower Bowl run, carrying torches
that illuminated the night. At the bottom of the run, they placed the torches
around the glowing word “HOPE” that was lit up on a bluff in the snow.

Ryan Rooper, ski coach for St. Mary’s Academy, and a survivor of tongue
cancer, spoke at the ceremony, as did another participant, a young woman
who was skiing to honor her friend, a young mother facing a second bout of
stage 3 colon cancer. After a few silent moments of reflection, the vertical
challenge was back on.

The most vertical feet was traveled by Jeff Ezzel of the team “Beat This” with
125,650 feet. A complete run from the Upper Bowl to Lower Bowl lift is about
1,500 vertical feet.

Troy Fischer, night manager of Skibowl, led his team “Doin’ It all Night Long”
with 110,000 vertical feet, but took a unique approach, completing the runs
via four methods: downhill skis, a snowboard, a ski bike and telemark skis.

“It’s such a great cause and a unique opportunity to get to ride all night long,”
Fischer said.

Team members took breaks as needed, in the Outback Lodge at Skibowl or in
their own make-shift camps set up at the bottom of the slopes or in the
Skibowl parking lot. Live music played throughout the event, keeping riders
and skiers fired up.

Prizes were awarded to the individuals and teams who raised the most money
as well as those who traveled the most vertical feet, as well as the teams that
raised the most money.

Event sponsors included Mt. Hood Skibowl, NW 32 TV, and Honda. Platinum
sponsors included Yelp, Panera Bread and KT skis. Gold sponsor were North
Audio and Video Productions, and Mt. View Family Practice. Additional
sponsors included Molecular MD, leArning3. Com, Alpha Broadcasting and
ONDP skis.