Fanny freezers get ready for the chill

On Superbowl Sunday, you can support the kids of your community by braving the chill of the early morning air. This year's Freeze Your Fanny will be taking place on February 12, complete with a hearty breakfast, door prizes and, of course, four miles of frigid fun.

"Freeze Your Fanny is a four-mile fun run/walk and pancake breakfast. The Sundance High School cross country team organizes the walk/run portion and the SHS student council handles the pancake breakfast," says Ann Marie Mickle, who organizes the event alongside Jen Jungwirth.

"All proceeds benefit the students. Jen Jungwirth and I are the cross country team's coaches, and Jen is also the student council sponsor."

Register before January 30 at https://freezeyourfannyshs.redpodium.com/freeze-your-fanny-sundance-high-school to receive a long-sleeve commemorative t-shirt. A link can also be found on the "Freeze Your Fanny Sundance High School" Facebook page.

On the day of the event, doors will open at 7 a.m., an hour before walkers may get started. Runners will begin an hour later, at 9 a.m.

The courthouse basement will be your initial destination to grab breakfast, pick up your packets and register if you haven't done so ahead of time. Shirts will not be available if you register on the day, but additional breakfasts will be on offer for $6.

The route itself will be a little different in response to comments last year that it wasn't quite four miles long. This year, the starting point will be in front of Old Stoney and participants will then head south to Cleveland St., where they will rejoin the usual route.

"People still ask if the event is 'for the kids'. Yes, it is! Jen and I volunteer our time to organize the event, and the parents and students make it happen," says Mickle.

"The student council uses the money earned for events that promote school spirit, to contribute to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and to help with various community needs. The cross country team use the funds for its summer running shoe challenge, to pay for travel meals not paid for by the school district, to provide post-workout snacks, and to purchase gear not covered by the school budget."

The money raised is also used to fund team bonding exercises, such as a meal before the state cross country meet, and to purchase items such as team sweatshirts.

But while the event is definitely 'for the kids', your age doesn't matter at the starting line. Freeze Your Fanny is open to all ages.

"It's fun to see families and friend groups participating, especially when they come in costume -you may remember the penguin group from last year's event," says Mickle.

"The run portion is competitive and will have men's and women's age group awards. There's also an award for best costume."

Door prizes will be on offer, with plenty of donated gift certificates and baskets from local businesses and individuals on offer. This includes gift baskets from Sundance Hardware, Serendipity, Fancy Coffee Truck, Deckers, PRECorp, Vilas Pharmacy and Sundance State Bank, as well as gift certificates from Wild West Espresso, Cowgirl Pizza and Uncle Louie's Diner, art prints from Bruce Speidel Gallery, a free deer processing from C&A Meats, a night's stay at the Bearlodge Motel and items from Wyoming Rose, Stickman Cupcakes, Anomaly Boutique and Gutierrez Jumbo Cookies.

"We are still seeking door prize donations and haven't gotten to all the businesses on our list yet," says Mickle.

"If a business would like to contribute a door prize, they can feel free to contact us."

For more information or to donate a door prize, contact [email protected] or [email protected] or call 307-281-0158.