Romp to Stomp Summit

March 6, 2010
This Saturday was the day to Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer.

It's a fun event -- dressing up in weird attire with a bunch of friends. I was one of 15 members of Team Kaleidoscope, and we were some of the best dressed women in our pink hats. A nice pair of sunglasses, this year, was obviously de rigueur.

There were more than 2,300 participants all dressed in some kind of pink. Often people will wear the name of someone who they are walking in memory of, or in support of, and it's pretty powerful. On our team alone there are four breast cancer survivors. One woman wore her support of another woman on the front of her outfit, and on the back it said '22-year survivor'. That's inspiring. It's been nine years for me.

The romp is so fun because it's one big chat fest, there are tons of people on the trail so there is no rush, we're strolling along with plenty of opportunity to talk. This year, the weather couldn't have been better for it. 

And the trail is beautiful. Frisco has been clearing trees killed by the Pine Beetle in a significant way and it's amazing how much this has improved the views to Buffalo Mountain, Mt. Royal and all the peaks surrounding the Frisco Nordic Center.

The snow on the trails was very firm and there was hardly any need to strap on the snowshoes, although they do make a much more impressive stomp than just a pair of hiking boots. It's very nice of the Tubbs snowshoe company to sponsor the event.

Being there for a great cause, it the best reward. I'd guess more than 200 people volunteer to help with the event. I helped at one of the many registration sites in the morning, and more volunteers were handing out water, making pancakes and coffee for the free breakfast, driving shuttle buses, helping with parking and others cleaned up afterward so that all the proceeds can go to eliminating breast cancer.  Seventy-five percent of all the funds raised stay with the local Colorado affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that provides grant funds to Summit County non-profits that offer services to women with breast cancer and provide prevention and educational support.  

Organizers said the event topped $100,000, which was raised last year. Donations are still coming in and final numbers aren't available yet.