Beginning at noon on Saturday, DAT Bar of Merrill and the Merrill Community New Year Ride will host the Flip Off Cancer: Round 2 Benefit in support of Anne Germain of Merrill.
A full day of events is planned, beginning with a Chili Cook-Off and Snowmobile Show/Contest at noon.
Stop in and enjoy homemade chili from two of the three finalists from the 2017 Downtown Chili Blast; prepared by Bill Davis of the Checkered Churn and Kurt Wendt of Merrill Sheet Metal Works. Additional participants include ‘DAT Team’ of DAT Bar and Mike Grunenwald of the Beacon Bar and Restaurant.
At 3 p.m., a poker run will depart DAT Bar, with stops at the Beacon Bar, Ed and Sharon’s Restaurant, Pagels Pub & Grub, Collin’s Bar and Kathy and Cal’s Club 64. Following the poker run, a raffle consisting of over $3,000 in prizes will be held, along with dinner and live music by Wausau-based blues/rock band ‘Bobby Blues Tortured Soul.’
Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three poker run hands as well as cash prizes for the best in three classes of snowmobiles; Generation-Z (1998 and newer); Classic (1997-1983) and Antique (1982 and older). Cash prizes will also be awarded for Grand Champion and People’s Choice in the Chili Cook-Off.
Additional contests will be held as well as prizes throughout the afternoon.
“We are very excited for Saturday,” comments New Year Ride board chairman Jeremy Ratliff. “Our five member governance board has been working steadily since October to organize and plan our annual fundraiser. We can’t even begin to express our appreciation to local businesses and employers for their generous support! It has been a very rewarding experience to rally the Merrill community around a very deserving cause for the second consecutive year. Anne’s story was brought to our board, by board member and Secretary/Treasurer Beth Anne Rekowski at our first meeting in October.”
Anne is currently fighting her second bout with Medullablastoma, a rare but aggressive brain tumor normally found in children. Originally diagnosed in 2012 at the age of 23, Anne fought the tumor to remission, only to learn the tumor had returned after four years. In August, Anne underwent her third surgery to remove portions of the tumor and is currently undergoing an aggressive treatment regimen at the UW-Hospital in Madison.
“Although we had received several applications, the decision to support Anne was unanimous for the board without a second thought,” Ratliff adds. “To even begin to understand what Anne has been through is next to impossible. But one thing for certain is she’s a fighter and a very courageous young lady. We are proud to have the opportunity to support her and bring the support of the community as well.”
Registration in advance is available through Friday night Jan.19 at the Beacon Bar and Restaurant, the AmericInn, Studio 808 and DAT Bar.
Same-day registration will open at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at DAT Bar, 1404 W. Main St., Merrill.
“We humbly thank the Merrill Community New Year Ride for nominating Anne for this wonderful gift, and the hard work and generosity they all provide to make this event happen,” adds Anne’s mother Laurie. “We thank all our family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and allies we never met, who come together to comfort, encourage, and sustain Anne during her crusade against brain cancer.”
For more information or to register, contact DAT Bar, Jeremy (715) 536-8494 or Beth Anne (715) 921-2018. Or visit the Community Ride’s Facebook page here.
Monetary donations are welcome via the “Community New Year Ride” account at Lincoln Community Bank.
The Merrill Community New Year Ride would like to thank the following local businesses and families for their generous support for this year’s event:
AmericInn of Merrill
Saloons and Spoons Newspaper serving Central and Northcentral Wisconsin
Z Best Car Wash of Merrill
Pine Ridge Mobil of Merrill
Devils Creek Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club of Merrill
Los Mezcales Mexican Restaurant of Merrill
Kwik Trip Stores of Merrill
Family Video of Merrill
First Street Coffee Station of Merrill
Chips Hamburgers of Merrill
Dawn Wolfe Photography of Merrill
Snow Shack of Merrill
Rut N Rod Outfitters of Merrill
Culvers of Merrill
Iron Raven Tattoo of Merrill
Piggly Wiggly of Merrill
Merrill Foto News/Merrill Courier Newspapers
Collins Bar of Merrill
Sierra Pacific Industries-Merrill Plant
Merrill Tool and Water Jet
Lincoln Community Bank-Merrill branch
715 delivery of Wausau and Merrill
Willies Tire of Merrill
Carl’s Liquor of Merrill
Courtside Furniture of Merrill
Miller’s Furniture of Merrill
Salvo’s Pizza of Merrill
Hugo’s Pizza of Merrill
Pizza Hut of Merrill
The Beacon Bar and Restaurant of Merrill
The Cosmo Theater of Merrill
Studio 808 of Merrill
Burgeners Contract Carriers of Merrill
Ed and Sharon’s Restaurant of Merrill
Pagels Pub & Grub of Athens
Sawmill Brewing Company of Merrill
Kristin Hetto of Khetto Designs of Merrill
Schneider Family Of Merrill (Jeff and Dinah)
DAT Bar of Merrill
Ratliff Family of Merrill (Jeremy and Jenny)
Rekowski Family of Merrill (Beth Anne and Paul)
Blake Family of Merrill (Kevin and Christine)
Kaufman Family of Merrill (John and Kim)
Schulz Recycling of Merrill
Associated Bank of Merrill
Pine Ridge Restaurant of Merrill
Dave’s County Market of Merrill
Zoomer’s Small Engine Repair of Merrill
*Special thanks to Brian Bannigan of Starscream Entertainment for donation of sound /PA equipment for use during Saturday’s event as well as Devil’s Creek Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club, for their assistance with the snowmobile show and contest Saturday afternoon.