Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser a hit with Monett

Monett Fire Department inaugural event raises at least $7,000 for local families to pay bills during cancer fight
 
The Monett Fire Department’s Hunt for a Cause benefit fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks raised at least $7,000 to help support local efforts fighting breast cancer in a first-of-its-kind event in Monett on Sept. 13.
A total of 15 teams registered to compete in the 18-event race, lasting four hours. Seven teams completed the event, but all paid the registration fee, helping the cause. Teams visited different stations around town to face a variety of wacky challenges. Competitors had four hours from the start, giving them approximately 13 minutes in each station set up across Monett.
While designed as a scavenger hunt, the teams faced complex physical and mental challenges. These ranged from kicking a field goal, hitting balls over a pickleball net, playing hopscotch to answer questions, seeking a stickered pumpkin in a bin of pumpkins, exploring the Drury University campus based on clues that led from room to room, taste tests at Great Dave’s, and finding miniature hidden ducks.
Joe Daues, director of Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, threw in more challenges at the opening. He explained teams could get extra points for posting photos of themselves on the BCFO Facebook page. They also had to spot letters posted downtown on paper, then figure out what word they spelled.
The winning team was organized by Morgan’s Hollow Bookstore.
“They won by three points over the Monett Fire Department in a very close race… 515 points to 512,” Daues reported. “They donated their winnings of $400 back to BCFO. Mark Sebastian, the musician for the after-party at Briar House brewery, also donated his fee back to the BCFO.”
A trophy for the winning team will be presented at the Monett City Council’s Oct. 16 meeting. The city council issued a special variance to bring food trucks to the downtown by Briar House to support the competitors and their spectators.
“Briar House Brewing Company sold out of the special raspberry sour beer they brewed especially for this event,” Daues said.
Funds will be used to help local families with a loved one in treatment for breast cancer pay their non-medical daily living expenses, such as rent, mortgage, utilities, car payments, and insurance.
“One unexpected consequence was Cox Monett Hospital was able to sign up several women for a mammogram just by participating in the event,” Daues said. Those mammograms would be paid for by the BCFO.
“We are already making plans to do this again next year,” he added.