A commercial company gets in a late-season run on the Animas. Local companies were struck down during the grand finale of their season when the river was closed due to the Gold King Mine spill. A benefit to help the companies make ends meet is planned for Saturday./Photo by Jennaye Derge

Staying afloat

Benefit to help whitewater companies left high and dry

by Missy Votel

Just as boaters help each other out on the river, they are banding together to help each other off the water as well.

This Saturday, from 4 – 8 p.m., the Backroller Benefit will be held at the Balcony Backstage. Funds from entry and the silent auction will go to benefit all nine local rafting companies affected by the Gold King Spill. The acid mine waste plume hit Durango on Aug. 6, effectively cutting short the hay-making season for many river companies.

“As you know, all nine companies were affected in a big way, and we would like to help them out as much as possible,” said Heath Corley, who along with his wife, Jessica, organized the event. “Jessica and I are big boaters and wanted to get involved somehow after the Gold King Mine incident. And although we support the environmental aspect, we know a lot of people involved with the guiding companies and wanted to help them, too.” 

Corley said they started planning the event in mid-August and have received overwhelmingly positive feedback and support from local as well as national sponsors, not to mention the guide companies themselves.

“Some literally cried on the phone when we told them about the benefit,” said Corley.

The Backroller (a reference to a whitewater feature) is different from the Community Emergency Relief Fund  in that money will go directly to the business owners. “This benefit is a little different in that the funds will be distributed equally amongst the nine whitewater guide companies and they will decide how to use the funds, whether to pay off loans, make van payments, help out employees, etc.,” said Corley.

The recipients of funds include: 4 Corners Whitewater, Durango River-trippers, Durango Rafting Co., Flexible Flyers, Mild to Wild Rafting, Mountain Waters, Outlaw Tours Rafting, Southwest Raft & Jeep, and Surf the San Juans.

The event will feature live music from the band Carosca, as well as door prizes and silent auction items from Osprey, Jacks Plastics, CKS, Astral, 2nd Avenue Sports, Hala, and 4Corners Riversports, to name a few. The owners of the Balcony have donated the space for the event, as well.

“Every single person we contacted not only donated but was enthusiastic and appreciative,” said Corley, a father of two who added that it’s a family friendly affair. “We decided to hold it from 4 – 8 p.m. so families and kiddos could come.”

Entrance to the benefit is $12 and food and drink will be available for purchase.

Meanwhile, the Business Improve-ment District announced this week that it has distributed more than $30,000 in emergency relief to some 65 local workers following the Gold King Mine accident.

The fund, established in 2008 to assist Season’s restaurant workers impacted by the Main Avenue fire, had an initial balance of $28,000, but contributions helped increase the fund to $45,000. Additionally, Steamworks Brewing Co. and El Moro donated $1,600 from a Sept. 2 fundraiser and proceeds from the sale of “Heavy Metal E.P.A.,” released by the Durango Bootleggers Society, is expected to add to the fund.

“But the need is going to outweigh the available funding,” Tim Walsworth, BID executive director, said. “And we want to make sure the CERF is also funded in advance of any future emergency.”

Donations for the CERF can be made payable to “Community Foundation-Community Emergency Relief Fund” and mailed to the foundation at P.O. Box 1673, Durango, CO, 81302. Deposits may also be made directly at the Bank of the San Juans, or credit card donations can be made via the Community Foundation website, www.swcommunityfoundation.org.