Ski event seeks to raise money for children with diabetes

It’s not often a ski mountain offers half-price or free tickets, but Pico Mountain Resort is doing just that for the third year in a row.

The third annual Downhill for Diabetes event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Pico, which is located in Mendon, Vt. The event aims to find a cure for diabetes through donating all proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF.)

Lynn Pratt, who started the event when her now seven-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in October of 2010, said the event raised $8,500 in its first year and $14,500 last year for JDRF.

“It’s a great experience; people stop by the table to talk to us and tell us stories of their relatives with juvenile diabetes,” Pratt said. She said her daughter, Ashley, joins her at this table to sell shirts and hats and talk about the disease.

“She loves it. To her, it’s still her event and everyone is there to show support for her, even though she knows the money goes to juvenile diabetes in general,” Pratt said.

Interested skiers or snowboarders can form a team or partake individually, and the individual or team who raises the most money will win prizes.

There will also be a donation race course set up with prizes for the fastest times of the day. And those who don’t do winter sports can still participate in the event by registering and donating to qualify for all the gifts and prizes.

“We hope to make a difference by raising funds to help support diabetes research and ultimately find a cure for this disease. This will allow our daughter and all the others out there like her lead normal lives,” Pratt said on the event website.

Participants can register for the snow day online and must preregister to receive discount or free lift tickets and prizes. Those who would like their business to be a sponsor for the event can also register online. Sign in on Feb. 24 is from 8 to 11 a.m., and skiing goes until 4 p.m.

“It’s a really great event for a great cause, and we’d love to have a lot of people come out and join us,” Pratt said.

To register or for more information, visit donationsfordiabetes.org or call 802-325-3257.