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MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The 2013 Dragon Fire Walk for Athletics is now officially in the books, and once again, the event was a success.

As of Monday, $50,500 was raised from this year's event, with all proceeds going to Dragon athletic scholarships.

"Everyone was a winner in the 8th Annual Dragon Fire Walk," MSUM athletic director Doug Peters said. "The participation of our alumni, friends, students and community made me proud to be a Dragon.  Alumni were back from all over the country and it was great to hear the successes they are having in their professional and personal lives.  It is inspiring to have our Dragon alumni come out and give back to Dragon Athletics to provide the same opportunity they had when they competed to today's student-athletes."

The Dragon Fire Walk kicked off on Monday, April 22 with a ceremonial walk around campus, led by Walk Leaders Anna VanWechel and Corey Ulmer.  Nearly 150 MSUM student-athletes, coaches and staff member stook part in the ceremonial walk.

The annual Walk the Dragon campaign, which is sponsored by the MSUM bookstore, also kicked off on Monday. Walk the Dragon is a five-day event in which participants walk a six-site course throughout campus, getting a stamp at each of the sites. The bookstore then donates a sum of money for each completed form turned in. The goal this year was 1,000 walks, and the final count was 1,338 (244 walks, 70 wellness center workouts and 1,024 practices). By the time the week was done, $3,000 was raised through walk the Dragon, bringing the amount raised in the eight years of the event to $20,000.

The opening ceremony was held on Saturday morning (April 27). Peters recognized the two Walk Leaders, VanWechel and Ulmer, for their efforts. In addition, the annual Shoeminator Award was handed out for the dorm complex with the most participants in Walk the Dragon; this year's winner was Snarr Complex. The Walk the Dragon check for $3,000 was also presented during that time.

VanWechel and Ulmer then led the walk across the MSUM campus at 9:30 a.m.  At 10 a.m., the 5K Splash Dash Fun Run was held with participants running on a course that utilized the layout of the MSUM campus. After the Splash Dash was completed, the Dragon Polar Plunge was held with individuals jumping into a pool of ice-cold water.

The women's basketball alumni game was held at noon. In the afternoon, Big 12 Conference Commissioner and MSUM graduate Bob Bowlsby spoke to a group of Dragon student-athletes in the afternoon.

The week was capped off with the entertaining River Rats Dueling Pianos show, which was held at Nemzek Hall on Saturday night.

"We are very thankful to everyone who participated, donated, and volunteered to make the 8th Annual Dragon Fire Walk a success.," MSUM assistant athletic director Gloria Riopelle said. "Our goal was to plan a day filled with fun activities so the young and the young at heart could participate.  It was great to see the students, alumni and community at the event - jumping in the Dragon Polar Plunge in the morning and reminiscing with good friends at the Dueling Pianos Show in the evening.  I hope everyone had a good time and will come back for next year's event."

Donations can still be made online at www.dragonwalk.com or sent to the Dragon Athletic department Attn: Dragon Fire Walk