Currently viewing the tag: "Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund"

Campaign Off to a Running Start

Deb Abraham Spalding

The Town of Thurmont’s 6th Annual Gateway to The Cure Covered Bridge 5K Fun Run/Walk took place on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at Eyler Road Park in Thurmont. It kicked off the town’s annual “Gateway to the Cure Campaign” fund drive to benefit the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Health.

This year, the Gateway to the Cure Campaign includes the Covered Bridge 5K, a golf tournament that will be held October 9, and a fundraising campaign within the Thurmont business community during the month of October. Also, the town sells “Gateway to the Cure” merchandise and pink light bulbs.

Thanks to your support, the Town of Thurmont has donated over $83,000 in the last six years to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Health.

Around 70 runners came out for the Covered Bridge 5K, with the top five male and female runners receiving a commemorative trophy. The top finisher, Owen Bubczyk, bested the former course record with a time of 19:07.

The top five female runners were: 5th Place—Kathryn Morgan (44:04); 4th Place—Tammy Gibson (41:40); 3rd Place—Sharon Cofer (38:58); 2nd Place—Kennedy McArthur (30:46 Note: first-ever race, and she is 17!); 1st Place—Roxanna Kircher (25:07).

The top five male runners were: 5th Place—Thomas Breivogel, Jr (24:29); 4th Place—Josh Spiers (23:07); 3rd Place—Jarrett Karnibad (22:52); 2nd Place—Reid Fliegel (19:56); 1st Place—Owen Bubczyk (19:07 Course Record).


Participants Terri Burch Pue, Robin Rippeon, and Karen Kinkaid are shown at the beginning of the Covered Bridge 5K  Run/Walk in Eyler Road Park in Thurmont.

Approximately 70 runners and walkers turn out for the race in the beautiful weather. Brian Payne waves “Hi” on his way by the camera.


First-place finisher Owen Bubczyk sets a new course record with a time of 19:07.

Jim Humerick, Thurmont’s CAO, helps by handing out pins before the race starts.

James Rada, Jr.

October has become a month when the residents and businesses in Thurmont go all-out to fight breast cancer. This year was no different, with Thurmont raising $18,000 for its 5th Annual Gateway to the Cure. With this year’s donation to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund, Thurmont has raised $62,000 over five years.

With the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners wearing their pink T-shirts, they held a meeting to present the town’s annual donation to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund.

Thurmont Main Street Manager Vickie Grinder reminded the commissioners and mayor that when the town began its efforts in 2014, they were hoping to be able to sell a case (122) of pink light bulbs.

“Jim Humerick and I were afraid we wouldn’t sell them all,” Grinder said. “We sold 1,348 that year and had two dozen businesses on board with us.”

Jeff and Patty Hurwitz created The Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Memorial Hospital in 1999. Patty had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the couple believed that early diagnosis had helped improve her chances of beating cancer. The fund is used to help improve ways of diagnosing and fighting cancer in the county. The fund has raised $1.7 million to date. That money has gone to purchase things, such as a machine for biopsies and another for 3D mammography. Every dollar donated to the fund is used for direct patient benefit, and there are no administrative costs.

During October, the Town of Thurmont sold pink light bulbs, sold Gateway to the Cure merchandise, sponsored “Paint a Lighted Wine Bottle” afternoon, held a Zumbathon at the American Legion, held a 5K race, and planted a pinwheel garden in honor of loved ones and survivors of all types of cancer.

Nearly fifty businesses and groups also participated in the Gateway to the Cure by holding their own fundraisers to contribute to the town’s donation.

Catoctin High Football Team and Cheer Squad sold pink T-shirts to be worn during the pink-out games.

Thurmont Historical Society donated a portion of its new member and returning member membership fees.

Gateway Orthodontics donated money for each set of braces patients purchased and sold pink mouthguards.

Timeless Trends held a night of pampering for people with local wine, food, and services.

Roy Rogers donated a portion of the strawberry shortcake sales for the month.

Simply Asia donated a portion of its customers’ checks.

Woodsboro Bank held Pink Fridays where employees could pay to wear pink on Friday, sold merchandise, and paid for each Facebook like their page received.

Criswell Chevrolet donated a portion of the cost of each oil change performed in October.

The thing that many of these participating businesses had in common is that they had employees, members, family, or friends who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some had fought it and won. Others had died from the disease. These businesses and groups wanted to help find a cure or at least more-effective ways to treat breast cancer.

The $18,000 donation is not only Thurmont’s largest donation to date, but it is also 20 percent more than was donated in 2017.

“This town is just amazing, and you should be commended for that,” Jeff Hurwitz told the commissioners.

Thurmont’s involvement in the Gateway to the Cure started in 2014 with Commissioner Wayne Hooper, whose wife Jill is a breast cancer survivor. Since that time, Grinder has been coordinating the town’s efforts to help find a cure.

Thurmont raises $18,000 for its 5th Annual Gateway to the Cure and presents check to Patty Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at FMH.

 

As the leaves on Catoctin Mountain turned to yellow, red, and orange, Thurmont turned pink as the town supported activities to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

During October, Thurmont becomes the “Gateway to the Cure,” as the town sells pink light bulbs, pink t-shirts, pink shopping bags, and more. In addition, various groups hold events and fundraisers and donate the income to the Patty Hurwitz Fund at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Jeff and Patty Hurwitz created The Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Memorial Hospital in 1999. Patty had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the couple believed that early diagnosis had helped improve her chances of beating cancer. The fund is used to improve ways of diagnosing and fighting cancer in the county. The fund has raised $1.7 million to date. That money has gone to purchase things, such as a machine for biopsies and another for 3D mammography. Every dollar donated to the fund is used for direct patient benefit, and there are no administrative costs.

“We’ve been able to do a lot of great things with this fund,” said Sadie Wolf, development officer for the fund.

She told the Thurmont Commissioners that because of the hospital’s focus on fighting breast cancer, and with the help of the fund, the time between a patient’s cancer diagnosis and surgery has shrunk from fifty-nine days to twelve days. This means that cancers are treated earlier, which improves a patient’s chances of survival.

Main Street Manager Vickie Grinder told the commissioners that 2017 had been the best year so far for the town’s campaign. Thurmont donated $15,000 to the fund. This brought the town’s four-year total donations to $43,648.

Grinder is hoping that the town does even better this year. She said things had gotten off to a good start with a two-hour Zumbathon at the American Legion that raised $700. The annual 5K run/walk also had forty runners and walkers raising money to find a cure.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird stated that he was challenging all of the other municipalities in the county to do something in their own communities to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

The town will make its donation later in the year, once all of the donations have come in and been tallied.

Thurmont’s involvement in the Gateway to the Cure started in 2014 by Commissioner Wayne Hooper, whose wife Jill is a breast cancer survivor. Since that time, Grinder has been coordinating the town’s efforts to help find a cure.

As the leaves on Catoctin Mountain turned to yellow, red, and orange, Thurmont turned pink as the town supported activities to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

During October, Thurmont becomes the “Gateway to the Cure,” as the town sells pink light bulbs, pink t-shirts, pink shopping bags, and more. In addition, various groups hold events and fundraisers and donate the income to the Patty Hurwitz Fund at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Jeff and Patty Hurwitz created The Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Memorial Hospital in 1999. Patty had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the couple believed that early diagnosis had helped improve her chances of beating cancer. The fund is used to improve ways of diagnosing and fighting cancer in the county. The fund has raised $1.7 million to date. That money has gone to purchase things, such as a machine for biopsies and another for 3D mammography. Every dollar donated to the fund is used for direct patient benefit, and there are no administrative costs.

“We’ve been able to do a lot of great things with this fund,” said Sadie Wolf, development officer for the fund.

She told the Thurmont Commissioners that because of the hospital’s focus on fighting breast cancer, and with the help of the fund, the time between a patient’s cancer diagnosis and surgery has shrunk from fifty-nine days to twelve days. This means that cancers are treated earlier, which improves a patient’s chances of survival.

Main Street Manager Vickie Grinder told the commissioners that 2017 had been the best year so far for the town’s campaign. Thurmont donated $15,000 to the fund. This brought the town’s four-year total donations to $43,648.

Grinder is hoping that the town does even better this year. She said things had gotten off to a good start with a two-hour Zumbathon at the American Legion that raised $700. The annual 5K run/walk also had forty runners and walkers raising money to find a cure.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird stated that he was challenging all of the other municipalities in the county to do something in their own communities to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

The town will make its donation later in the year, once all of the donations have come in and been tallied.

Thurmont’s involvement in the Gateway to the Cure started in 2014 by Commissioner Wayne Hooper, whose wife Jill is a breast cancer survivor. Since that time, Grinder has been coordinating the town’s efforts to help find a cure.