(11/25) Thurmont Town Municipal Building became a sea of pink Nov. 23 as the community celebrated a Gateway to the Cure grandeur milestone. The Thurmont Town Council presented the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Health Hospital with a check for $18,500, the money having been garnered as the result of Thurmont’s 8th Annual Gateway To The Cure Campaign.

Proving a season worth being thankful for, "We give thanks to all who have supported our journey for the last eight years for Gateway to the Cure," said Economic Development Manager Vicki Grinder.

Together, the Town of Thurmont has collected a grand total of $116,000 since the campaign’s inception in 2014, according to Grinder. Grinder marveled in appreciation at the community’s dedication and volunteer support to not only keep the campaign running but thriving each and every year. "At every one of our events there are smiles, smiles, smiles everywhere," she said.

Grinder recognized the community of passionate sponsors, donors, town staff, volunteers, and participants that had made the fundraiser successful year after year.

Grinder credited local businesses as "The heart and soul of Gateway to the Cure" for their continual support even through the pandemic when many businesses had to shut down and restaurants could only have takeout sales for months on end.

In 2020, Gateway to the Cure carried on raising $15,300 despite the pandemic forcing some events to cancel and fewer businesses being able to participate.

"The fact that this little town has collectively achieved $100,000 in funds raised in support of research funds, that’s phenomenal, that’s no small change," Said Coach John Steiner, organizer of the campaign’s 5K.

The Patty Hurwitz Fund began in 1999, after Hurwitz was diagnosed with breast cancer. The fund is used to support early cancer detection methods at the Stockman Cancer Institute in Frederick, which provides access to the diagnostics County residents need without having to travel far from home.

All funds collected stay local for Frederick County breast cancer research and early dedication. To date, the Patty Hurwitz Fund has collected a total of $2.3 million and "$116,000 of that is from Thurmont," she said. Hurwitz congratulated Thurmont for reaching such an outstanding milestone for such a small town. "There’s a saying, ‘You are as big as your heart is,’ so I would say you are a really big town," she said.

Hurwitz acknowledged breast cancer doesn't stop because there is a pandemic and the need for breast cancer funding is just as strong if not stronger now than ever. "You said you could do it, and you did it … From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. It takes a lot, this is such a wonderful effort," she said.

Mayor John Kinnaird credited Hurwitz for touching countless lives of local people facing breast cancer; either through themselves or through loved ones. "Patty, you inspire everything that happens up here in Thurmont with breast cancer awareness," he said.

Once again, Gateway to the Cure proved that neighbors helping neighbors and a dedication to cancer awareness is in the spirit of the Town of Thurmont. "It’s about the journey," Grinder said.