Friday, May 22, 2009 

NORTHSHIRE — What started out as a "girls' weekend" has evolved into a fund-raising effort in honor of an outstanding community member who recently passed away.  Twelve local women, all of varying ages and degrees of athleticism, decided to run the Green Mountain Relay Race, a 200 mile continuous relay race that begins in Jeffersonville and ends in Bennington the weekend of June 20, Father's Day Weekend. They are raising money to benefit the college fund of William and Ian Frank, sons of the late Glen Frank, late of South Londonderry, who passed away unexpectedly last November. 

The initial purpose of this event was personal for these women and each had their own intent or goal. The idea has now taken on a different scope because the women decided to take their personal initiative and turn it into a fundraiser to benefit the Frank family. Thus, the "FRANK-Footers" relay team was born.

Frank was a man who many respected and admired. He was valued in the community as a businessman and occasional bartender, but most notably for his love for his family. Many on the FRANK-Footers team had a personal connection to Frank and his family. 

The FRANK-Footers will host a kick-off party with dinner and music at the Red Fox Inn, Bondville on Saturday, May 30. The Italian themed dinner is $25 and includes entrance into the bar for evening entertainment. Food is being donated by the Red Fox Inn and Mulligans of

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Stratton. Entrance for music only is $10. There will be a raffle that evening at the event and tickets are currently available at $5 or 6 for $25 — no need to be present to win. There are several prizes donated by the MacDonald Family, Jamaica Cottage Shop, Equipe Sport, Manchester Country Club and Equinox Country Club, Bromley Mountain, The Perfect Wife Restaurant, the Green Door Day Spa, the Winhall Sweeping Company, and others to be announced.

The team is also accepting donations in drop buckets at the Hapgood Store in Peru and at Sherry's Café in Manchester. All proceeds from these fundraisers will go to the college fund.  The FRANK-Footers appreciate all support.

FRANK-Footers team members are: Melissa Brown, Londonderry; Kathy Buckley, Jamaica; Rosa Cannella, Jamaica; Juli Christy, Londonderry; Kellie Cofer, Florida; Elaine Crawford, Bondville; Sheri Hardy, Sunderland; Kelly Hollifield, Bondville; Sarah Kiefer, Londonderry; Kristi MacDonald, Bondville; Alex Robinson, Bondville; and Jen Stearns, Sunderland.                           

For more information on the Green Mountain Relay, visit www.greenmountainrelay.com.

For more information on the FRANK-Footers, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/FRANK.-Footers/59365474037.