Ski to save lives
MCKEAN COUNTY - The 44th annual Tony Dolan Ski for Cancer benefit graced Westline Inn and the Kinzua Valley Rail Trail last Saturday, February 4.
Tony Dolan dedicated his life to supporting the American Cancer Society. During his lifetime, he served as president, board member, and a passionate volunteer. Dolan started the Ski For Cancer event as a wintertime fundraiser 44 years ago. The event is now the American Cancer Society’s longest-running fundraiser and the only one of this kind in Pennsylvania. This benefit has raised more than $300,000 for our local American Cancer Society.
This is the first year they’ve hosted the benefit since the pandemic. The girls doing the 50/50’s father, Tim Cummiskey passed away from cancer. In his obituary, he asked that donations be made to this event. Within a week, the family sent over $800 in memorial donations dedicated to this event. So the chairperson, Betsy Eschrich, and the committee decided to bring the benefit back.
This year the benefit raised over $27,000. Team Logan raised the most with $3,698. Kayelyn Eschrich won the individual who raised the most, with $4,000. The 50/50 of $582 was won by B. Munch, and he generously donated half back to the benefit.
The Westline Inn offered live music, food, and raffles. The inn was full of people enjoying the day and bringing good spirits to the benefit. The freezing temperature and lack of sufficient snow for skiing didn’t stop hundreds of people from supporting this fundraiser. There were cozy campfires along the trail for folks to warm up and chit-chat. Laughter and joy lifted the mood as they gathered around the fires for warmth. People came from the local area and even as far as Erie. Only a few diehard skiers attempted the trail while most people walked.
To honor loved ones lost to cancer, the beautiful Kinzua Valley Rail Trail was lined with red, white, and blue memorial trail signs along with maroon trail signs which have been around the longest. Each sign featured a name. Walking the trail, the collective signs portrayed the vast number of people who lost the battle against cancer. The abundance of signs gave context to the cause and reminded everyone of the brevity and blessing of life.
“My dad started this in 1979 when I was a freshman in high school. The first event was at Pine Acres golf course. My dad was a pharmacist and owned the Ott and Mchenry Pharmacy in Bradford. Craig Hart owned the Headwall Ski Shop in Bradford. They were on the board of the American Cancer Society and were trying to think of a fundraiser. That’s how they came up with a cross-country ski event,” Eschrich, also a pharmacist and daughter of Tony Dolan, said.
Kent Carlson was also one of the original event organizers. Her dad passed away in 1992, and a couple of years later and they named the event after him.
“Here we are, 44 years later, still hosting this event. He was a devoted advocate for cancer. The new drugs are making a difference in the length of life for many cancer patients. There’s no cure, but it’s not a death sentence now,” she said.
Eschrich added that donating to new drug research makes saving lives a possibility.
“The American Cancer Society is like a big corporation, but there aren’t any small organizations that can leverage the same resources. The cause still needs fundraising. Donations do make a difference, even for our local area.”