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The Butterfly Fund of East Tennessee Foundation is committed to supporting the kids and families impacted by cancer through research, treatment, and more. As a passionate advocate for this important work, Hickory was proud to participate in the Fund’s second annual Butterfly Dash and Bash.
Now in its second year, the Butterfly Dash and Bash raises funds for ETCH through a 5k, 10k, fun walk, and Burger Bash. Hickory cooked up a Hickory Home-Run Slider for the event’s inaugural Burger Bash, and was excited to return for a second year with a pizza burger — complete with a hickory-smoked marinara sauce.
“After sorting through a few ideas, the team settled on the pizza burger,” explains Hickory team captain Tyler Fest. “Our final recipe consisted of ground beef, hickory-roasted marinara sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, a variety of Italian spices and garlic basil aioli.”
The Italian-inspired recipe and the team’s infectious enthusiasm earned Hickory the Team Spirit Award, second place in the People’s Choice Award, and seventh place out of 21 teams overall from the event’s judging panel. But while their burger’s success was appreciated, Hickory’s main mission was to raise money for the kids and families undergoing treatment in ETCH’s Pain and Palliative Care department.
“It’s so important to celebrate the above-and-beyond care that the hospital provides for these kids and their families,” says Fest. “Being able to play a small role in helping out is an honor and was the real reason we were all there.”
This year’s Butterfly Bash raised more than $100,000 for ETCH — a number that both the organization is honored to share with the kids and families who need it most. Fest explains that, in addition to raising money for a powerful cause, the Butterfly Bash is a great way to put Hickory values into practice outside of the office.
“Our participation not only helped the hospital directly, it helped us create memories and share laughs,” he says. “The whole team really pitched in and created a vision, planned the work, and worked the plan. It was awesome to see it all come together.”
