(11/25) The Thurmont commissioners presented the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Health Hospital with a check for $15,300, the money having been garnered as the result of Thurmont’s 7th Annual Gateway To The Cure Campaign. To date, the town of Thurmont has donated more than $98,000 over the seven years of fund-raising to the cancer fund.

Town Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder, who manages the Gateway To The Cure campaigns as part of her many responsibilities, said in her opening remarks during the presentation, "Wow. What a year it’s been. None of us have ever seen anything like this (COVID-19 pandemic), and quite frankly … we don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring – what we can do, and what we can’t do."

In spite of the pandemic, Grinder said it was decided to proceed with 2020’s fundraising events, while being mindful of the need to implement safeguards for participants and volunteers to protect all of those involved from the coronavirus. "We decided to move forward, and do it as safely as we could," the program manager stated.

Grinder said that, while the effects of the pandemic did not prevent town staff and volunteers from holding a number of fundraisers, it did prevent other events from occurring. One of the fund-raising events and activities that circumstances associated with the pandemic would not allow to be held included the popular 3rd Annual Zumbathon, Additionally, she pointed out, there were 18 less businesses that were unable to participate.

The fundraising effort for 2020 was further hampered by the cancellation of Colorfest, during which a couple of major fundraising activities could have occurred, including parking of cars at Stauffer Funeral Homes for Colorfest – "that always brought us in a big chunk of change" – and the selling of merchandise by town staff at Colorfest to benefit the fund, Grinder said.

Fundraising events and activities that were successfully held included the Gateway To The Cure Covered Bridge 5K, the Gateway To The Cure Golf Tournament, Garden of Love pinwheel sales, the pink light bulbs sales, the Pink Pumpkin contest, and the sale of Gateway To The Cure merchandise - all of which were supplemented by businesses that donated a portion of their in-house sales, and private donations from residents.

Grinder recognized the many sponsors, donors, town staff, volunteers, event participants, and those who have made purchases of support merchandise. that had made the fundraiser the success that it was.