Lamar Area Hospice Receives $7,000 from Beer and Brats for Boobies Group

L-R: Courtney Holt Rogers, Debbie Pelley, Jill Tinnes, Megan Grett (back) Lisa McCollough, Jana Weimer, Ashley Berkshire, Tammy Turpin Martinez

The one year old hospice/palliative care program at Lamar Area Hospice received a $7,000 donation this past Monday, November 3. The gift was presented to Deb Pelley, Executive Director of the local hospice organization by members of the BBB, Beer-Brats & Boobies Committee.  The funds were raised through sponsor contributions as well as entry fees from the 174 runners/walkers who participated in their 3^rd annual event, held during Lamar’s Oktoberfest celebration last month.

Pelley said the program is expanding hospice services to the public, “We help keep a patient comfortable and provide the support they need when they’ve been given a terminal diagnosis.” She added, “We’re very honored that Jill has the confidence in us to be worthy benefactors…we are thrilled.”

Jill Tinnes, who has overseen the annual event is also a cancer survivor, and although she did not participate in this year’s run, many of the runners came out in her honor. “We hit it all, we get you out for Oktoberfest, we get you outside and get you some exercise and create awareness for breast cancer and hospice.  We’ve very proud of what we do,” she stated.

Although the event is centered around a serious theme, it is a light-hearted event. She spoke about that part of it, referencing the distinctive pink tutus which are worn by women and some of the men.  “The tutus are on loan for the race, but participants get a free tee shirt.  It’s great that people make it a fun event, and some of them create their own costumes or put together their own teams.”

This past year’s turn out had 174 participants, and their entry fees, coupled with $200 donations from sponsors raised $7,000. Tinnes said the numbers have increased each year. “Last year we had 135 people show up and 65 for the first year.  We decided to donate our funds to SECCI, Southeast Colorado Cancer Initiative, which is a deserving and appropriate group.  With this money, we knew hospice had a new program and we wanted to share the wealth, so everybody wins.”

Tinnes said there’s a special relationship that develops and bonds breast cancer survivors and their friends and relatives. “We’re doing this to honor those individuals who fought so courageously and fought so hard and this battle is a symbol of why we do this and those people who have lost their battle really have a touching story.  People share that and remember those people and those who are still battling. People create teams and they hug it out and they love each other and they wish each other well and it’s a way to have camaraderie within the breast cancer community.  There are lots of women who can’t make it out to the races, but would have loved to have been there and share their stories.  It’s a community, all linked in pink.”

She said the struggle needs to continue and bring awareness to the community. “Do what you can to support them, the community can rally around them in several ways, groups and organizations.  October’s not enough.  We have to keep it on the forefront because people lose their lives and they don’t have to.”

Tinnes added that the committee usually starts next year’s plans around June, but, “Right now, we’re just going to give ourselves a little break this time.”

By Russ Baldwin