Three different fund-raisers benefit hospital, kids with disabilities

NORWAY -- Even with a 15.2 percent unemployment rate in Michigan, residents in Dickinson County were overly generous on Saturday, helping fund the hospital and local charities.

Nearly 400 people showed up at Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain Saturday morning to ride their bikes in the Tour de Dickinson.  The event benefited the Dickinson County Hospital Foundation.

It's one of two fund-raisers they put on each year.

'We do a lot of capital purchasing for the hospital," said Executive Director, Erika Justus.  'One of them is a breast MRI.  One of them is a digital CT Scanner."

A few miles down the road in Norway, two new charities put on their first benefits on Saturday to aid families with children that have medical needs.

Dave Hiltunen and his wife held a brat roast at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds with games, music, a petting zoo and a silent auction.  Money raised will go into their newly established fund in memory of their autistic son, Niles, who passed away in May.

"(We want to ) help local families with incidentals that aren't covered by insurance or by public aid," said Hiltunen.

And a volleyball tournament at the Thirsty Whale Saturday afternoon raised money for Hearing For You, a group that helps children with hearing loss.

"Our goals are just to alert people to our organization," said cofounder, Amy Ortman, "and hopefully raise money for families in need."

Residents in Dickinson County proved that a lot of people, each with a few dollars, can raise a great deal of money for their neighbors.