Back at the Sherwood Forest Campground, which is connected to the off-road park by a gravel road, participants and volunteers were treated to an impromptu barbecue on Saturday night and a Famous Dave's catered banquet on Sunday night, complete with awards and door prizes. The Worst Break award went to Jerry Sweeny, who lost a tranny, made a six-hour round trip to pull one out of a junker, and then installed it in the campground. When the dust, rocks, and mud settled, the 2006 Crawl 4 the Cure event raised $24,500 - over a 16-percent jump from 2005! Forty percent of that money will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, while the other 60 percent will go to the Minnesota chapter of the MS Society.
One of the event organizers, John Johnson, summed it up brilliantly: "This is such a great event because it not only brings together a great group of people to do something they love and fight such a devastating disease, it also showcases our love and support for our community. We, as off-road enthusiasts, are not the destructive, land-wrecking monsters we're sometimes made out to be. We're actually outdoor-loving enthusiasts who give back to the community and to the people who need it most. We've raised over $45,500 in just two years. Imagine what we could do if we had twice as many people involved next year. The support from all the volunteers and sponsors is really overwhelming and the event could never have happened without all of them."
If you or your business is interested in sponsoring or participating in next year's Crawl 4 the Cure, to be held from June 29 through July 1, 2007, please contact the organizers. Planning has already begun for next summer, and it's never too early to get involved.
Facts About MsMultiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, optic nerves). Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and about 200 people are diagnosed per week. There may be as many as 2,500,000 people with MS worldwide.