ROTTERDAM 24 hours on the slopes Skiers have heart at marathon Annual benefit tops last year’s total raised Gazette Reporter
Despite fewer teams and a battered economy the annual “Ridge Goes Red” ski relay marathon at Maple Ridge Ski Lodge beat its 2008 fundraising total. Karen Doyle, co-manager of Maple Ski Ridge, said she helped organize this year’s event. She said 11 relay teams of four participants each helped raise money for the American Heart Association on Friday and Saturday. The teams paid a $60 fee and raised a minimum of $200 in donations to participate in the 24-hour relay event. By the end of the relay at 7 p.m. Saturday, the teams had raised $6,500, up from $6,000 in 2008 when 18 teams participated. “With the economy the way it is this year, I think we’re really pleased with the numbers,” Doyle said. “The economy is so bad people are really having a hard time making donations and with the money we received this year we’re very pleased.” Each team attempts to keep at least one member skiing or snowboarding on a slope at all times for 24 hours. After the event, prizes were awarded to the teams that completed the most runs and to the team that raised the most money. Spencer Peterson, 17, a grandson of one of the ski lodge’s owners, said he participated in the marathon as part of a team called Rock Solid. He said it was his second year doing the event and he enjoyed it, not only because of the skiing, but because of the camaraderie of the many young people who slept in sleeping bags at the ski lodge throughout the night as they took turns keeping their teams in the race. “It’s very physically demanding to be out there on the slopes for that amount of time. You’ve got to have a lot of people pumping you up to stay out there for a long time because it really drags you down, but as long as you’ve got your teammates to pump you up you can keep right on going,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, plus you’re supporting a good cause.” Doyle said of all the participants only about six were older than 18. Elizabeth Lahart, 10, of Schenectady was .....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01104
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