JMNP Beano Memorial
The general purpose of the JM NP Beano Memorial is to honor and remember the three Cross Country athletes the Rock Springs team has lost over the past 35 years.
This memorial was started in 1996 the year Justin MacDonald passed away from cancer. His team, led by Michelle Shipman Babcock, established a run up Wilkins Peak to allow his fellow teammates to challenge themselves, raise money from their community and support a local charity in Justin’s memory.
This memorial has since expanded to honor and remember Nicole Peterson and Dan Bruner upon their subsequent deaths. One of the major goals Donna and Brad DeKrey really hoped to impress upon all of the athletes they coached was the importance of giving to others. This memorial helps young people live this goal year after year. The three charities who receive funds from this memorial are: The Ronald MacDonald house in Salt Lake City in Justin’s memory; St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis in Nicole Peterson’s memory and Black Dog Rescue in Cheyenne in Dan Bruner’s memory.
Thank You Larry Erickson
The Rock Springs High School Cross Country team, along with Donna & Brad DeKrey would like to thank Larry Erickson for his generous donation of a new plaque for the JM NP Beano memorial. The original plaque, made be Gary Burstad in 1996, was filled. Therefore, several award recipients were unable to be recognized. Larry Erickson donated his time, talent, and beautiful walnut wood to create a new plaque for the team. The Rock Springs High School Cross Country team is now able to honor all past and future winners of the JM NP Beano memorial award. Again, many thanks to Mr. Erickson* for his support of this memorial award.
*Larry Erickson's nephews; Thomas & Brian Erickson were members of the Rock Springs High School Cross Country team during their high school years.
Charities
The money raised from the fundraiser goes to three charities that are chosen by the families of the former cross country alumni who have passed away.
The family of Justin MacDonald has chosen the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City; The family of Nicole Peterson has chosen St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital; The family of Dan Bruner has chosen Black Dog Rescue.
Ronald McDonald House provides support and housing for families to be near their sick or ill children while the kids are being cared for. It is a home away from home.
St. Jude’s works to understand, treat, and put an end to childhood cancer and other illnesses and diseases.
Black Dog Rescue, located in Cheyenne, provides homeless animals with loving homes and promotes animal welfare across Wyoming.
In Memory Of
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Justin MacDonald
Justin was a normal 14 year old who played soccer, loved running, and enjoyed being around family and friends. He was looking forward to high school and being on the cross country team. Disaster struck when he wasn’t able to run and was extremely tired during the summer. He was diagnosed with Stem Cell Cancer on his 15th birthday and never saw his 16th. He died at home on June 8, 1996. The coaches of the Rock Springs cross country team made the many treatments more bearable for him due their social/team building philosophy. He was invited to the social gatherings which made him feel part of the team.
During his treatments, The MacDonald family would spend days at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City. This is an unimaginable benefit for families going through horrific periods when their lives have been upended.
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Nicole Peterson
Driven and inspired. Those are two words that describe Nicole. She doesn’t sit still. Besides running year round, she loved to go dirt biking, water skiing, snow boarding, camp and anything else involving the outdoors. She even broke two cross county track records.
Nicole worked for the city of Rock Springs as a life guard. As soon as she was eligible, Nicole became a fire cadet for the Sweetwater County Fire Department. She remained a member ever since.
Nicole always encouraged and helped others, especially teammates. She touched many lives, in a positive manner. She was a great student, who had high expectations for herself. Unfortunately, asking for help was not easy for her. Nicole will always be loved by her family and friends.
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Dan Bruner (Beano)
“Beano” Dan Bruner.
Dan was born on 7-4-79. He was a quiet kid with a dry sense of humor. Dan was a Cub Scout, Eagle Scout and a great student. He was always a good friend to all.
Ben was a swimmer and called Dan “Bean” as a kid. Sam was a runner and also in Cross Country. Dan started sports with karate, then followed his brothers with the White Mountain 7th grade football team and soccer. He also played basketball and the trombone in band and then in high school he ran Cross Country. In school and these sports the friendship was more important than being a star. Dan had so much potential and always wanted to be an architect.
Bean really had a soft spot in his heart for animals. He had three dogs, at different times, and a cat which we took to see him on a college visit. His charity is “Black Dog Animal Rescue”.
Dan died of an intestinal-abdominal bleed on 5-5-2017.