The Tony Dolan Memorial Ski for Cancer will be held Saturday “no matter whether it snows or not,” said organizer Betsy Eschrich.
Eschrich’s family continues to hold the annual event, which was first organized by her father, the late Tony Dolan, in 1979. On Saturday, the 38th annual event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westline Inn and the nearby Kinzua Valley Cross Country Ski Trail in Westline.
“It’s gonna snow,” she said on Sunday afternoon. “We have faith in that every year.”
And even if it doesn’t, would-be cross country skiers or snowshoers will still be invited to enjoy the trail’s beauty — they can hike. Besides, there will be many other activities to fill the January weekend.
Live music, a pig roast, a bonfire and games of chance.
This year, due to the efforts of the Kinzua Valley Trail Club, trail-goers will be able to trek up to about eight miles rather than the 4.5 miles they could in the past. “The trail club has worked really hard on getting that trail developed,” said Eschrich.
She said most people register on the day of the event when they arrive, but participants can register online, too. People who register online will be able to choose the size t-shirt they want if they bring the minimum $25 in sponsors.
Day-of registrants will be offered a t-shirt, too — as long as supplies last — but pre-registrants are more likely to get the correct size.
Available for purchase will be t-shirts, sweatshirts and opportunities in games of chance. Donated items to be given away will include a knife from W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. commemorating the event; a trail bike from Pete Dzirkalis, owner of Just Riding Along in Bradford; and a custom-made birdhouse from Ken Schaming.
Skiers, snowshoers and hikers do not have to show up at 9 a.m.; they are welcome to come whenever they are ready. “The Jamestown Cycle Shop donates a limited amount of skis, free of charge,” she noted.
For anyone who decides they don’t want to be out in the weather, “They can just stay inside and enjoy the comradery there,” said Eschrich.
Live music by the No Name Trio and the pig roast both will begin at noon.
Food will be served right up until 4 p.m., as long as they don’t run out. For $8, diners will receive a sandwich, a side and a drink. According to Eschrich, the Westline Inn will make potato salad, and family and friends will make sides including pasta salad and baked beans — “a lot of homemade stuff, and it’s good.”
“We just have a good time all day long,” she added.
Eschrich talked about her father coming up with the idea to hold the event, as well as why the event means so much to participants.
She explained that when he was alive, Tony Dolan held many posts with the American Cancer Society. He came up with the event while brainstorming for a way to raise money for the organization during the winter.
For his family, it’s been an important cause to continue to support. “It’s something that we’ve always believed in, to support services for people who need it,” said Eschrich.
As Eschrich explained, the impact of cancer is felt by everybody. “It touches everyone in some way.”
She noted that while some people think negatively about supporting such a big organization as the American Cancer Society, she feels the cancer research that has been possible due to the group’s size has been imperative to the progress in cancer treatments over the decades.
As a pharmacist at Ott & McHenry Pharmacy, she is very aware of new cancer medications that continually come on the market. “I see the new drugs every year. You know those don’t develop without funding.”
She added that the organization also provides individual support to local patients by helping them get rides to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., or even to appointments here in Bradford, as well as to get wigs for patients who lose their hair due to chemotherapy.
“There’s just so many services they provide,” said Eschrich. “Every dollar helps.”
