Jo Dee Messina tears up the slopes at Country in the Rockies.
Country in Rockies generates $1 million for cancer research
Dr. Barbara Murphy is joined by OrthoBiotech’s Dick Robbins, left, and Mike Severance. Robbins bought a 65-inch television during the live auction, with plans to donate it to VICC’s clinic.
BMI President and CEO Frances Preston welcomed more than 300 participants to Country in the Rockies, an annual fund-raiser that supports the laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center that bear her name.
The Vanderbilt-Ingram gang takes a snowshoe tour of the mountain. From left, Orrin Ingram (kneeling), Barbara Murphy, Hal Moses, Susan Holt, Linda Moses and Audrey Smith.
MT. CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. – Fans of country music and friends of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center enjoyed a record-setting Country in the Rockies (CITR) last week, raising more than $1 million during the annual fund-raiser for cancer research.
The gross proceeds were the highest ever for this eight-year event, which raises funds for the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories, a division of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, Leukemia and AIDS Research. Final tabulations will not be available for several weeks, but organizers expected to far exceed previous years in net proceeds as well.
The six-day event was proclaimed by many participants as the best ever, with a wide range of artists and concerts, including a rocking program by Jo Dee Messina, fireside guitar pulls featuring CITR regulars and singer/songwriters new to the event, and a finale performance by legendary singer-songwriter Willie Nelson.
The event also included celebrity ski races, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and silent and live auctions of trips, artwork, autographed guitars, walk-on appearances on “Will & Grace” and “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and other music and sports memorabilia.
Among the highlights:
• One of the most popular components of CITR, Celebrity Bartending, generated nearly $200,000. This event takes place in three bars in the historic mining town of Crested Butte at the foot of the mountain. Artists pour drinks, sing songs, pose for photos and give kisses, all in exchange for donations.
• The purchase of a 65-inch television during the live auction by Dick Robbins, who heads the oncology division of pharmaceutical maker, OrthoBiotech. Robbins announced with his bid that he would donate the TV for the enjoyment of the cancer patients in Vanderbilt-Ingram’s clinic.
• A winning bid of $12,500 for a gig by Soul Incision, known as “Nashville’s Best Garage Band,” which features Vanderbilt doctors, nurses and administrators. Band members Norman Urmy, executive vice president for Clinical Affairs, and Dr. Wright Pinson, chair of General Surgery, were on hand to talk up the item. Offers to join Soul Incision were made by artists Suzy Boggus, Deborah Allen, Billy Dean, Aaron Barker and Sherrie Austin.
• Messina taped an edition of CMT’s “Top Twenty Countdown” from various locations around the mountain in Crested Butte.
• Cocoa for a Cure, an initiative of the children of the artists and other participants. The children sold hot cocoa on the deck at the base of ski run, raising a total of $1,100. With matches from other patrons, the venture generated about $3,000 for cancer research.
• A duet of “Crazy” by its writer, Willie Nelson, and Mandy Barnett (known for playing Pasty Cline in a show about her life at Ryman Auditorim).
Other artists who participated this year were Gary Chapman, Marv Green, Skip Ewing, Andy Griggs, Robert Earl Keen, Kathy Mattea, Will Rambeaux, and Will Robinson.
Sponsors included American Airlines, BMI, Club Med, CMT, Yamaha, Red Stripe, Preston Sound, The Smith-Free Group, Barbour Griffith & Rogers Inc. and AmSouth.
Country in the Rockies 2003 is scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 2, again at Club Med Crested Butte. For more information, visit www.citr.org.