Mark finished three weeks at home recovering from his second round of chemo. He returned to the hospital October 14, for his third and strongest does of chemo to date. This will continue to be his pattern for the next few months. He has been feeling good and continues his short walks and outings and is enjoying the northeast fall colors. He still comments on the mail he receives and how much it means to him to hear from folks here in Montana.

Our fundraising event on Thursday, September 19 at Glacier Guides/Montana Raft in West Glacier which included a live auction, silent auction, raffles, live music and a pot luck, was amazingly successful – exceeded our expectations!! The success of this fundraiser was directly attributable to the generous nature of the greater Flathead Valley community. Everything was donated. We had no overhead costs going into the event so every dollar raised was direct support for Mark. Our local business community deserves a round of applause for their support. We’d like to recognize and thank local businesses for providing items to auction, or food and beverages for the attendees who numbered well over 300.

Thank you to: Glacier Guides/Montana Raft, Friends of Flathead Avalanche Center, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Great Northern Bar, Backslope Brewing Co., Great Northern Brewing Co., Flathead Lake Brewing Co., Kalispell Brewing Co., Last Chair Kitchen and Bar., Rocky Mountain Outfitters, Izaak Walton Inn, Cedar Creek Lodge, Glacier National Park Conservancy, Snow Leopard Tree Farm, Glacier Adventure Guides, Winter Woods Dog Sled Tours, John Colliander Hand Built Log Beds, Craig and Amy Moore and Glacier World Photography, Author Susan Purvis and Kenny Gasch, Music One Workshop, Swan Valley Connections, Michael Reavis Photography, Heidi Haugen Pottery, Old Sun Knits, Christina Hon Photography, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Sportsman’s Ski Haus, Going-to-the-Sun Chalets, Glacier KOA Resort, Leah Lynn and Knotty Girlz, Song Stick and Troy Good Medicine De Roche, O’Connor Crafts, Shelly Woessner, Abruzzo Italian, Gunsight Restaurant and Tupelo Grille, Gilman Grips, Sacred Waters Brewing, Spotted Bear Spirits, Polebridge Mercantile, Northern Lights Saloon, Uptown Hearth & Azul Coffee, Glacier View Golf Course, Valerie McIntyre Photography, Glacier Bark Kennels, Hunter & Co., Klinger Lumber, Author Beth Hodder, Spotted Bear Employee’s Association, Whitefish Animal Hospital, Abbott Valley Homestead, Electroman Electrical Service, Leif Haugen Carpentry, Artist Rusty Wells, FVCC Culinary Arts Division, Iron Fitness, Author Becky Lomax, Whitefish Therapy and Sport Center, Hellroaring Crossfit, Serrano’s Restaurant, Rock & Roll Bakery, Two Medicine Grille, Summit Lodge and Steakhouse, Third Street Market, Three Forks Grille, Artist Ann Piersall-Logan and Randi Beougher, Canyon Foods and Hungry Horse Liquor Store.

In addition to all the vendors who joined us to support Mark, there were many, many private individuals who provided items to auction or raffle, including their personal creations as artists, craftsman, painters, knitters, potters – all labors of love for a great cause. The Belton Blues Band provided great music and auctioneer Mark Vessar created a really fun live auction.

Our support for Mark will continue until he’s back on the trail with us, or back on his skis climbing up our mountains to dig those pits for avalanche analysis. If you didn’t get a chance to join our fundraiser, you can still donate to a great person in need by visiting Go Fund Me, and enter his name in the search field. We’ll also be at the last Columbia Falls Farmer’s Market in the Coop at O’Brien’s Liquor & Wine on Thursday, September 26.

Thanks again, to a great community!

Our fundraiser is this Thursday, Sept. 19, beginning at 5pm at the Glacier Guides/Montana Raft located at 11970 U.S. Highway 2 in West Glacier.

Thanks to the greater Flathead Community for an amazing list of donations to be auctioned and raffled at this Support Mark 2019 Fundraiser. Contact your friends, family, and business associates and let them know about these great offers. If you have friends who live out-of-the-area but would like to bid on these items, you can be their proxy. Use your cell phone and keep them in touch with the auction as you bid for them. Check out the great list of adventure items and overnight stays – great for your friends and family to come visit!

Please join this fundraising event for Mark, take part in the auction, enter the raffle for your chance to take home any of these great items, plus many more that aren’t listed:

• Rocky Mountain Outfitters: outdoor gear package for winter and avalanche safety
• Whitefish Mountain Resort: adult annual ski pass
• Glacier Adventure Guides: snowshoe trip for 4
• Winter Woods Dog Sled Tour
• Electrician Justin Halverson: 8 hours of electrical service – top of the line electrician, new construction, remodel, big jobs, small jobs
• Valerie McIntyre Photography: 6 “buy-it-now” photo shots
• Glacier Guides/Montana Raft: 1 day rental of a Bicycle or Stand-Up Paddle Board
• Music-One Workshop in Kalispell: Acoustic Guitar
• Heidi Haugen Pottery: Two hanging lanterns made especially for this event
• Lobster Pirate Bohemian Jewelry: Leather and turquoise bracelet with buffalo nickel button
• Hunter & Company: designer lamp
• Abbott Valley Homestead and Cedar Creek Lodge: overnight stays

A wide variety of gift certificates including:

• Abruzzo Italian Restaurant
• Gunsight Restaurant
• Spotted Bear Spirits
• Polebridge Mercantile
• Northern Lights Saloon
• Uptown Hearth
• Glacier View Golf Course
• Azul Coffee

An amazing collection of artwork and handiwork from our very talented local artisans, including:

• Canvas prints
• Framed photography, metal photos, framed agate stone,
• Hand-made blankets, lap quilts and rag rugs, knit items,
• Jewelry
• Tote bags
• Ceramics and pottery
• Unique lamp made from the wood of Sperry Chalet!

Adventure items including:

• Tuition to an avalanche rescue class and the pack pull of safety gear to go with it
• Children’s kayak
• Overnight stay in a variety of cabins, chalets and a unique geodome!
• Plus two trailer loads of firewood – who can’t use that!!!

Great stuff for you horses and dogs including:

• Hand-made horse ropes, 4-knot stiff halter, double-braided lead and double braid/loop sport reins by Kotty Girlz
• 1 day/night boarding, 1 bath and dog treats from Glacier Bark Kennels
• Goodie box and gift certificate for veterinary care from Whitefish Animal Hospital

The live auction will start promptly at 6pm!!!

In addition, some of our fabulous local breweries have donated kegs and canned beer for the event! Thanks to Backslope Brewery, Great Northern Brewery, Great Northern Bar, Flathead Lake Brewing Company, and Kalispell Brewing Company. (Proper ID will be required)

The evening will also feature a pot luck, with the Last Chair Restaurant from Whitefish providing vegetarian and meat lasagnas! Please bring your favorite dish or specialty to share. Plates and utensils will be supplied but feel free to bring your own.

Come enjoy good food, drink and fellowship with other friends of Mark Dundas and bid on some fantastic items to support him through this challenging time.

Join the Fun!~

• Live Music by the Belton Blues Band (you might want to bring a camp chair)

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On Monday, September 2nd, Mark came home from the hospital to rest and recover in Rochester. He will be home for two weeks until his next round of chemotherapy on Monday, September 16th.

He has responded well to the chemo and his blood cell counts have improved. Short walks and fresh air are keeping things in perspective. Mark’s powerful mind, strong body, the support of his friends and community will take him far during these difficult times. He appreciates the thoughtful cards from everyone. Please keep them coming.

Thank you to all the members of the Glacier Trail Crew Rendezvous who passed the boot and raised over $1,000 last weekend! Your generosity does not go unnoticed.

Create a page or two and bring them to the fundraiser. Each page will be put in a plastic sleeve and added to the binder as a collection of fun times. We will mail it to Mark by mid-October.

A collection box will be set up on a table for people who want to create pages at the fundraiser. Pages should be in 8.5 x 11″ paper. Those who want to find photos and put them together can email their pages to sprttrailmarkd@gmail.com

Below are a couple sample pages – anything goes – photos, jokes, stories whatever brings a smile to Mark’s face.

Our fundraiser at Montana Raft-Glacier Guides on September 19, at 5 pm, will be the start, not the end of our support.

We have a great line of auction prizes:

• Whitefish Mountain Resort Ski Pass
• Glacier Adventure Guides – snowshoe trip for four
• Avalanche Training Course Tuition
• Essex Cabin – three nights
• Trailer load of seasonal firewood
• Pottery
• Photography
• Jewelry

Live music by the Belton Blues Band – September 19, 5pm Montana Raft – Glacier Guides

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We’ll follow with continued support. Send cards and letters to 24 Hidden Valley Rochester, NY 14624. Since he’s in Rochester, NY for treatment he’s separated from the Flathead/Glacier community that he loves. So we need to reach out and keep him in our thoughts as this winter approaches.

We created a site to help raise money for Mark’s rare blood cancer treatment. gofundme.com. Type Mark Dundas in the search icon in the top left corner and his name will appear.

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