GILBERT—Members of the “Crawl 4 the Cure family’’ will be coming from around the country this weekend to help raise funds to fight multiple sclerosis—and to just have fun.
More than $1.6 million has been raised in the first 19 years of the event, according to Jeff Ward, one of the founders of the event.
The 20th year of the crawl kicks off with registration today and Ward said raising another $150,000 is the goal this year. Crawl 4 the Cure runs through Saturday.
Ward is looking forward to the trail rides and all of the events because the riders bring such an “energy’’ with them and are extremely generous with their fundraising donations, as well. He called the event “extremely special’’ and said “people are really in the spirit, which is overwhelming and moving.’’
The crawl was started 20 years ago by Twin City Off Road (Jeff Ward, president) and HTR (the late John Johnson, president). Both clubs were members of the Minnesota Four-Wheel Drive Association. The purpose was to do something good for those suffering from MS and to raise awareness that the four-wheel drive community is a good bunch of people. At the time, he added, the four-wheel drive community wasn’t always painted in a manner.
Picking the National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, as the charity to support was an easy one, according to Ward. Johnson’s wife has MS as does the mother of Ward’s best friend.
“So many so close are impacted by it,’’ he added. “We’re trying to make a difference.’’
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Twenty years later, the event is all based on volunteers and is sponsored by many businesses and corporate sponsors. A planning committee puts on the event and there is about 10 individuals working together and organizing it.
The volunteers and riders often bring “magnificent’’ hand-crafted door prizes and special gift baskets for the silent auction.
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The schedule for the event is as follows:
THURSDAY
8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: OHV Park open to get MN DNR OHV stickers and explore the trails.
4-8 p.m.: Event check-in, trail ride sign up and trail rig tech inspection, all at the Gilbert Ice Arena.
FRIDAY
7-8 a.m.: Event check-in and tech inspection at the ice arena.
8:15-8:45 a.m.: Lineup for trail rides at the OHV Park-back parking area.
8:45 a.m.: Drivers’ meeting at OHV Park-back parking area.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Trail rides at the OHV Park. Also included is a trail ride behind the Super 8 in Eveleth. That trail was built by the Northern Minnesota Jeepers and is the only grant-in-aid trail in the state sponsored by a club. A memorial ride for a past rider will also be held.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lunch at the OHV Park.
5-11 p.m.: Gilbert Fire Department beer and brats garden; slide show featuring crawl pictures at the ice arena; vendor displays at the ice arena; preview silent auction items at the ice arena.
5-7 p.m.: Event check-in at the ice arena.
6-7 p.m.: Bingo at the ice arena.
7-10 p.m.: Street dance featuring Indecent Proposal Band in front of the ice arena.
SATURDAY
7-8 a.m.: Event check-in at the ice arena.
8:15-8:45 a.m.: Lineup for trail rides at the OHV Park-back parking area.
8:45 a.m.: Drivers meeeting at OHV Park-back parking area.
9 a.m.: Trail rides at OHV Park. Also included is the ladies ride, which has become a “huge hit.’’
11:30-1 p.m.: Lunch at OHV Park.
Afternoon: Choose your own adventure time (trail rides, RC Crawl, relax, etc.).
1:30-3:30 p.m.: RC Crawlers at outside gate of OHV Park.
2 p.m.: Medallion hunt at Gilbert OHV.
4:30-7 p.m.: Door prize ticket entry; plus vendor displays, silent auction bidding and kids raffle, all at the ice arena.
5-10 p.m.: GFD beer garden at ice arena.
7-8:30 p.m.: Banquet program and raffle drawings at the ice arena.
8:30-9 p.m.: Raffle and auction checkout and pickup.
9 p.m.: Banquet cleanup at the ice arena.
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For further information go to crawl4thecure.org or check out the event on Facebook.
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