Carl Junction, MO raising big money for breast cancer research

Post office, mini-skirts, Branson Zipline, and poodle skirts play part
(Branson, MO – Thursday, October 13, 2011) — Want to know how to raise big bucks for breast cancer research? Just ask Carl Junction’s Chamber of Commerce President, Gary Stubblefield. This month, Stubblefield plans to take part in a flash mob, illuminate Carl Junction with pink lighting, wear a pink mini-skirt at city council meetings and among other things – if Carl Junction can raise over $40,000 – wear a pink poodle skirt while zipping at Wolfe Creek Preserve home of Branson Zipline Canopy Tours. And not just any zip, he’ll take flight on the Blue Streak Fast Line (at one point soaring over 150’ in the air) and then take the plunge on the Freefall Xpress, North America’s only 100’ freefall dismount controlled by a power fan.

Carl Junction is a small Missouri community (pop. 7,500) however in 2010 they took second place nationally in raising funds to purchase breast cancer awareness postage stamps. Those funds go towards breast cancer research. Stubblefield says, “In addition Carl Junction CARES, the group supporting stamp sales, has fundraising and awareness activities to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO), the Hope4You breast cancer foundation and for the association Early Detection Works.” For October, National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Carl Junction CARES, led by Stubblefield, plans for dozens of activities to help them take first place in raising funds for 2011. “Last year, the post office that placed first in the nation sold $42,000 worth of stamps, our goal is to beat that amount. If we can raise over $40,000 by October 31, you’ll see me and my pretty pink poodle skirt at Branson Zipline Canopy Tours on November 5. I hope to be joined by our City Council, the mayor, city administrators and Carl Junction Post Master,” says Stubblefield. “Now that will be worth the price of the stamps alone.”

There are additional activities and ways that you can help Carl Junction meet its goal. “With Carl Junction Cares the bottom line is anything can be done, if you believe enough in what you are doing. We have had two detections in our first 3 years of doing this. That is what I am most proud of,” says Stubblefield. “We will be busy just about every day to bring attention to the cause.” The observance kicked off the first of October with Carl Junction going pink at dusk and sales of the official United States Postal Service’s breast cancer awareness postage stamp at the Carl Junction post office, 111 S. Main St. The lighting, along with pink ribbons on utility poles and pink awareness ribbons on Main Street, will be in place throughout the month. To participate in supporting the cause by purchasing postage stamps from any location contact the Carl Junction Post Office at 417-649-7831.

To get exact information, dates, and times for other fundraising activities go to facebook on the internet and like Carl Junction CARES at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carl-Junction-CARES/314567013845

Currently the list of activities includes:
• Oct. 15, “Zumba to Show You Care” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Primary K-2 North School gymnasium.
• Oct. 16, “CJHS/FBLA Breast Cancer Walk to Show You Care” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Carl Junction High School Bulldog Stadium, under the direction of the Carl Junction High School Future Business Leaders of America. Prizes will be awarded to the largest team, most creatively costumed team and more.
• If, by Oct. 18, the post office hits the $20,000 mark in stamp sales, Carl Junction City Administrator Steve Lawyer will wear a pink mini-skirt to the City Council meeting.
• Oct. 20, a flash mob, “Twist to Show You Care”. Location to be announced on facebook “Have your pink shirt on and be ready to do the twist in the area’s largest flash mob ever,” said Stubblefield.
• Oct. 25, Mercy Hospital’s mobile mammography unit will be in the Carl Junction Community Center parking lot from 8a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30p.m.
• Oct. 27, Carl Junction CARES (CJ CARES) will have an information booth set up at “Bridging the Generations” senior expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Bridge, 3405 S. Hammons Blvd.
• Oct. 28, the fourth annual CJ CARES “Community Snapshot to Show You Care” will be taken in ribbon formation at 6:30 p.m. at the Carl Junction High School stadium. Public participation is sought for the event.
• Other events that have taken place include: The “Skate to Show You Care” held at Spinning Wheels SK8 Center. At that time the post office hit $10,000 in breast cancer awareness postage stamp sales, the entire City Council wore pink poodle skirts to that night’s council meeting. Saturday, Oct. 8, “Breast Cancer Awareness Biker Style,” a breast cancer awareness expo, was held from 10 a.m. to noon at Cycle Connection of Joplin.

“Keep checking our facebook page for new activities and I sure hope to see all of you out at the Branson Zipline watching me and my poodle skirt fly across the sky,” says Stubblefield. “That’ll be one freefall dismount where the shouting is all about the joy of achieving our goal and helping keep breast cancer awareness top of mind.”

Media Members for more information contact:
Gary Stubblefield, President Carl Junction Chamber, 417-208-9082

190 North story on Branson Zipline Canopy Tours and Payne Stewart Golf Course

Outdoor activities help you sample Branson area's beauty

John Gifford for the St Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a nice article about Branson...she starts out the story this way:
BRANSON, MO. • For many of the 8 million visitors who travel to Branson each year, the city's live music shows and family-friendly atmosphere are its most prominent attractions. And why not? With its theaters offering about 56,000 seats, Branson boasts more theater seats than New York City's Broadway. But its greatest show may be the one playing beyond the city's opulent theaters and the frenetic stretch of Highway 76 known as "The Strip."

And moves on to highlight various outdoor activities including Branson Zipline Canopy Tours. In the story here's a nice quote from our general manager:

"We have actually worked hard to ensure this is a low-impact activity for multiple generations to enjoy," says General Manager Emma Hamilton. "The most challenging aspect for most participants is overcoming their issue with heights."

John continues the story with this: So put your fear of heights aside and select from several different tours, including the Ozarks Xplorer Canopy Tour, a 2.5-hour trek incorporating swinging walkways, suspension bridges, and numerous zip lines.

Read the entire story here: http://www.stltoday.com/travel/article_a0268e10-b004-5b0b-97a9-b1ee214e65df.html

St Louis Post-Dispatch: Check out some of their favorite things to do in Branson

Happy to see that the St Louis Post-Dispatch picked Branson Zipline Canopy Tours as one of their favorite things to do in Branson!
Read about it here:
http://www.stltoday.com/travel/html_ab57f0ec-71e9-11e0-969e-0019bb30f31a.html

AY Mag listed Branson Zipline as one of Branson's Best Outdoor Experiences

Angela Thomas in writing for AY Mag had this to say about Branson Zipline Canopy Tours:

"If you love to fly above it all, ziplining is for you. Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours offers several tours, including the Flying Prospector Canopy Tour that includes four ziplines and seven suspension bridges and takes about two hours to complete. Want to take in the sights in a more leisurely manner? The Wolfe Creek Photo Safari may be just for you; you’ll start out at the top of Wolfe Mountain in a Pinzgauer Swiss army carrier and tour by foot the Wolfe Creek Preserve."