For the Journal

POCATELLO - Scott Wight had always been an avid skier. But he first participated in the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group Ski-A-Thon in the early 1980s because he saw how the program transformed the life of his cousin, Kyle Packer.

Packer, who has cerebral palsy, was one of the original members of CW HOG.

"I like what they did for him and how it helped him, so I thought, 'Well, I have to do community service of some type in my life. This would be the way to do it,'" Wight explained.

During the past four years, Wight has raised more than $7,000 for CW HOG's annual Ski-A-Thon fundraiser.

The majority of funds raised stay in the area and go to the Pocatello Adaptive Ski School, where they help pay for equipment such as sleds and transportation to and from ski areas.

In the early years of the Ski-A-Thon, people and businesses would pledge a dollar amount for each run a participant completed. However, this method was deemed too dangerous.

"Which it was, because we were a bunch of maniacs trying to make a lot of runs down the mountain," Wight said.

Now, flat pledges are collected from individuals and businesses by participants. The highest earners get to choose from a list of prizes including gift certificates from Barrie's Ski & Sports and Scott's Ski & Sports, a one-year family membership to Fitness Inc., a gift from Pocatello Electric and a season pass to the Pebble Creek Ski Area.

Because Wight has been the highest earner for the past four years, he always gets first pick.

"I always take the ski pass to Pebble Creek," said Wight.

Wight gets most of his collections at the Bannock County Courthouse, where he works as a security officer.

"I approach the attorneys and my fellow workers, and I ask them to donate $5," he said.

Last year alone, Wight brought in $2,200, but many of the pledges were considerably more generous than the amount he requested.

"I have one attorney who said the first year he would give me $100 and double it every year until he retires," Wight said. "The employees of Bannock County have been very generous over the years. They all come through for me, and I'm very appreciative of them. I couldn't do it without their support."

Wight has made a commitment to himself to raise more money each year than he did during the previous year.

He's never missed his goal, though he'd be happy to match last year's total this winter due to the slowing economy.

Though prizes provide an incentive, Wight said the main reason behind his effort is that he likes to see people with handicaps given the ability to get out to the ski area and enjoy the mountain.