Sandpoint, ID – The hills surrounding Sandpoint, Idaho were alive with record-breaking performances at the “24 Hours of Schweitzer” fundraiser March 22-23. The fifth annual event brought in over $123,000 that will directly benefit cystinosis research – bringing the 24 Hours for Hank fundraising total to more than $600,000 in just five years.

Bolstered by perfect weather, skill and determination, participants set 10 new records. Three skiers completed more than 200 runs, and three more skied or snowboarded more than 190 runs. In all, an impressive 8,111 runs or 8,081,284 vertical feet were logged during the event. It was a fitting tribute to the fundraiser’s fifth anniversary.

Four-time defending champion Matt Gillis of Sandpoint earned his fifth straight victory and set another new record, skiing a remarkable 220 runs or 211,540 vertical feet (the equivalent of 158 miles) in 24 hours straight and beating his 2011 record by 18 runs. Gillis also individually raised more than $27,000 in pledges, earning honors as the event’s top fundraiser for the third straight year.

Other record-setters in the solo category included skier Eric Jensen of Sandpoint, who took second place with 215 runs; Collin Davis of Altadena, Calif., who earned third place with 204 runs; and Rick Knott, who set a new snowboarding record after completing 196 runs.

“We’re here to have fun for a good cause. But for many of our participants who set out to achieve their personal best, the wait is over,” said Brian Sturgis, Hank’s dad and one of the event organizers, referring to last year’s event when stormy weather delayed the official counting of runs and left many records untouched. “We’re thrilled that such stellar performances happened at our fifth anniversary, a real milestone for us given the event’s small beginnings as a way to help Hank and others with cystinosis. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone – participants, donors, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, local businesses, media, Schweitzer Mountain Resort and its employees, and our family and friends – for their part in getting us closer to a cure. Real results are already happening in the promising treatments Hank is currently involved with.”

Nearly 100 skiers and boarders between the ages of 4 to 68 participated in the event, some traveling from as far as California and Colorado. The ski relay concluded with an auction, dinner and awards party attended by 265 people. Many were dressed in Bavarian and Alpine costumes to celebrate the event’s “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of a Cure” theme

Nearly 170 leading businesses and individuals from Sandpoint and around the region contributed to the auction dinner and awards party, including more than 125 live and silent auction items and prizes donated for the event. An original Schweitzer Mountain chair lift from Musical Chairs was the top item up for bid after fetching $1,250.

The annual event was held in honor of six-year-old Hank Sturgis of Sandpoint, who has the rare, fatal disease cystinosis that affects only 500 people nationwide. All money raised benefits 24 Hours for Hank, a Sandpoint foundation established to raise money for cystinosis research and treatment. Since 2008, more than $600,000 has been raised locally for the national Cystinosis Research Foundation to help find a cure for this extremely rare, genetic disease that slowly destroys every organ in the body including the kidneys, liver, eyes, muscles, thyroid and brain.

Donations are still being accepted and can be made online or via the mail. For more information, call (208) 610-2131 or visit www.24hoursforhank.org.

2013 Stats and Award Winners

• Total Participants: 96 (28 women; 68 men; includes 9 youth under age 10)
• Total Teams: 24
• Total Solo Participants: 12
• Total Runs Completed: 8,111
• Total Vertical Feet Covered: 8,081,284
• Number of Volunteers: 56

Most Runs Solo:

• First Place: Matt Gillis of Sandpoint, who completed 220 runs (new record, 1st place)
• Second Place: Eric Jensen of Sandpoint, who completed 215 runs (new record, 2nd place)
• Third Place: Collin Davis of Altadena, Calif., who completed 204 runs (new record, 3rd place)

Most Runs Three Person Team:

• First Place: Team DAMACO, which completed 542 runs. Team members included Cory Lindholm, Dante Rumore and Mac Miltz of Sandpoint. (new record, 1st place)
• Second Place: Team Tres Loquitos, which completed 295 runs. Team members included Anavel Boge, Laura Boge and Michael Boge of Sandpoint.
• Third Place: Team Sharp Edges, which completed 51 runs. Team members included Jason Gallaher, Adam Sharp and Heidi Sharp of Sandpoint.

Most Runs Four Person Team:

• First Place: Team Hank E. Panky, which completed 767 runs. Team members included Mark Hammond, Rick Knott, Jeremy Deming and Wade Jacklin of Coeur d’Alene. (new record, 1st place)
• Second Place: Team C.A.M.O, which completed 614 runs. Team members included Amber Roberts, Andy Gion, Matt Williams and Brent Otter of Sandpoint. (new record, 2nd place)
• Third Place: Team The Idgits, which completed 591 runs. Team members included Finan Lund, Kjetil Lund, Peik Lund and Max Edmundson of Sandpoint. (new record, 3rd place)

Most Runs Relay Team: (new this year; one timing chip per team)

• First Place: Team Mashing Tater, which completed 212 runs. Team members included Timothy Lewis and David May of Spokane.
• Second Place: Team EzyDog, which completed 209 runs. Team members included John Hatcher and Jacob Styer of Sandpoint.
• Third Place: Team Blue Eyed Bombers, which completed 158 runs. Team members included Angie Quinn and Korah Quinn of Sandpoint.

Top Individual Fundraiser – Over Age 18:

• Grand Prize: Matt Gillis of Sandpoint, who raised $27,121
• First Place: Zack Nees of Sandpoint, who raised $1,800
• Second Place: Kristy Rief of Sandpoint, who raised $1,313
• Third Place: Mac Miltz of Sandpoint, who raised $1,193

Top Individual Fundraiser – Under Age 18:

• First Place: Sam Timmons, age 8 of Highlands Ranch, Colo., who raised $4,350
• Second Place: Slate Fragoso, age 8 of Sandpoint, who raised $3,508
• Third Place: Crosby Schmidt, age 6, of Sandpoint, who raised $970

Top Team Fundraiser:

• First Place: Team Hank E. Panky, which raised $10,094. Team members included Mark Hammond, Rick Knott, Jeremy Deming and Wade Jacklin of Coeur d’Alene. (new record)
• Second Place: Team Davis, which raised $4,336. Team members included Collin Davis, Kirstin Davis, Henry Davis and Lily Davis of Altadena, Calif.
• Third Place: Team Full McCabe, which raised $3,215. Team members included Zack Nees (Sandpoint), Jason Nees (Bellevue, Wash.), Eric Frickle (Spokane) and Cody Lile (Sandpoint).

Most Runs – Kids 12 and Under:

• First Place: Kjetil Lund, age 10 of Sandpoint, with 133 runs (new record)
• Second Place: Slate Fragoso, age 8 of Sandpoint, with 118 runs
• Third Place: Crosby Schmidt, age 6 of Sandpoint, with 104 runs

Youngest Male Participant: Calvin Schmidt, age 4 of Sandpoint, who completed 33 runs

Youngest Female Participant: Laura Boge, age 8 of Sandpoint, who completed 101 runs (new record)

Oldest Participant: Linda Currie, age 67 of San Diego, Calif., who completed 15 runs

Best Costume: Royce Sharp of Sandpoint (youth); Monica Gallaher of Sandpoint (adult)