Sasquatch Shuffle helps Plains family

There was a Sasquatch sighting Sunday afternoon running along River Road East and it was following a group of runners. Oddly, they were running to help Sasquatch - 10-year-old Sage Doble - who was injured in a hunting accident and dressed in a Sasquatch outfit.

It was all part of "Sage's Sasquatch Shuffle 5K & Spaghetti Supper," a fundraiser held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds to help pay the youngster's medical bills, including a Life Flight to Spokane, said Whitney Tanner-Spurr, who organized the run and dinner. Just over 50 people signed up for the 5K, which started at the fairgrounds entrance and went about a mile and a half to a turn around point, where runners could get coffee, water, hot chocolate and cinnamon sticks before returning to the finish line back at the fairgrounds.

Tanner-Spurr said it was a fun run/walk and had no trophies or prizes. The cost to partake in the 5K was $30 a person. Kids 12 and under could run for free, as long as they were accompanied by a registered adult. Registering for the run included the spaghetti dinner and a Sasquatch T-shirt. Runners ranged from 6-year-old Dillon Doble to those in their 70s and included three parents, Pat Roy of Plains, Sierra Lilly of Thompson Falls and Kati Mitchell of Plains, who pushed child-filled strollers. Also in the race was the entire Doble family. Sage started the race wearing her Sasquatch outfit, but her mother, Rachel, had the mask on and dad, Josh, was carrying the rest of the costume, when they crossed the finish line together. Tanner-Spurr said they named the run the Sasquatch Shuffle because Sage "loves all things Sasquatch."

"We have so much gratitude for the community coming around to support us," said Rachel Doble. Sage had been accidentally shot while hunting on Oct. 11 on Thompson River Road. Rachel said the bullet went through her side and into her stomach and liver. She said Sage's brother, Sawyer, 8, helped save Sage's life. "He was very courageous. He put pressure on the wound and held her up so her lungs wouldn't fill up with blood during the trip from the mountain," said Rachel. One of the biggest expenses was the life flight to Spokane, which might have exceeded $40,000, according to Tanner-Spurr, a certified nursing assistant at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. She recommends that people look into purchasing Life Flight insurance, which she believes costs about $65 a year.

First across the 5K finish line were Conrad, 17, and Josiah, 18, Vanderwall of Plains, both finishing the run at the same time at 23 minutes and 32.87 seconds, according to Monica Weedeman, who kept track of most of the finishers. Second was Plains resident Isaac Rivinius at 25:32.87. Sarah Stover of Thompson Falls was the first woman across the line at 26:33.73.

Close to 200 people showed up for the spaghetti dinner, which was cooked by the Plains Lions Club. Cost for just the dinner was $6 for adults and $4 for children. Meat for the dinner was donated by Van Dorothy and Bernie Phillips of Plains. Just over $1,400 was raised on the dinner alone and $1,500 was raised with the 5K.

The four-hour event also included a silent auction and a raffle, which had more than 150 items ranging from a child's jewelry box, donated by Deriyan Sheehan, to a fire pit, donated by Batt Lulack. The auction raised $4,235, said Lisa French, who organized the auction with her daughters, Melissa French and Kassandra Marjerrison. An Orca cooler donated by Studs Building and Home fetched the highest bid at $245 and a rifle donated by Gary Revier went for $225.

The group had three drawings, which raised $1,000. Tina Dockter won a rifle. Wayne Cole won a cord of firewood and J.R. Strand won a chainsaw.

"I feel confident organizing something like this because I know people are going to support it because this is Plains," said Tanner-Spurr.