Fundraiser aims to assist ski patrol employee
Mark Dundas has been diagnosed with a rare from of leukemia.
A fundraiser is set Thursday for Mark Dundas, a Glacier National Park trail crew worker and member of the ski patrol at Whitefish Mountain Resort, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
Dundas has dedicated his career to making sure everyone has a safety net when recreating in the Flathead Valley. A fundraising event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, for Dundas beginning at 5 p.m. at the Glacier Guides/Montana Raft Pavilion located at 11970 U.S. Highway 2 in West Glacier.
The fundraiser will assist with Dundas expenses as he is currently undergoing an aggressive course of chemotherapy. He has returned to his hometown of Rochester, New York, for where he has a support network.
For more than 25 summers Dundas has served on the trail crew in Glacier National Park building and maintaining some of its most iconic trails. In addition, he has worked on the Whitefish Mountain Resort ski patrol assisting skiers in need and has assisted BNSF Railway with avalanche forecasting. He joined the staff at the Flathead Avalanche Center providing forecasts for winter recreation.
His coworkers and friends are organizing the fundraiser to assist him with medical costs and living expenses while he undergoes treatment. As a seasonal employee of Glacier Park, his employment and income will end in October and it’s uncertain if he’ll be able to return to his summer or winter seasonal jobs.
The fundraiser event will feature the Belton Blues Band, followed by a live and silent auction. A wide array of items have been donated for the auctions including a Whitefish Mountain Resort adult season ski pass, outdoor gear, jewelry, crafts, gift certificates and more. For more information, email sprttrailmarkd@gmail.com, or visit markdundas.home.blog. Donations can also be made online on GoFundMe by searching for Mark Dundas.