(Rock Springs) –

One bowl at a time, residents and visitors gathered at the Sweetwater Events Complex to help out two organizations, but more importantly to remember the life of Kathy Crabtree and provide important information to the public on Cushing’s Syndrome.

On Thursday, over 1,000 tickets were turned in while groups helped paint and donate over 1,000 bowls to the annual Bowls of Sharing. The money raised at the event goes to the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and the YWCA. People from as far as Evanston came down just to support the event.

 With their homemade bowls, residents chose from 18 different soups. The soups came from soup kitchen volunteers, the Young at Heart Senior Center, Knights of Columbus and Charlie’s Hot Shot, Outlaw Inn, Little America, Grubs, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, Trail Assisted Living, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Coyote Creek, Sherrie Ertle, Betty Steffensmeier and Debbie Varras.

Many volunteers helped provide service including the Western Wyoming Volleyball Team members, who have become a staple of many events in the community. Organizations came out as members of LifeSkills were guests and other organizations donated the baskets for the auctions. Board Member Donna Ragsdale said the generosity and support of local residents, businesses and organizations has been amazing. 

One specific thing Ragsdale said was so nice was that for the second year in a row Kum and Go donated a $400 gas card. She said, like the gas card, a lot of the donations are very useful in the community.

Last year, the event raised $30,000 for the YWCA and soup kitchen. Throughout the event, several people said they liked the fact the money stays in the community.

Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar spoke to Buckrail as he waited in line to grab a bite to eat. He said it was a good opportunity to help raise money for the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and the YWCA while getting good soup and a nice bowl.

“Rock Springs has always been known as a giving community and the people always step up and help,” Demshar said. “The residents of Rock Springs have always believed in helping their neighbor and you can really see that with today’s turnout.”

At this year’s event, children could be seen laughing and playing at several games set up. There were also several children eating hot dogs. Ragsdale said this was the first year they have done these things because Bowls of Sharing has become such a true family event.

“We also found out children don’t like soup that much,” Ragsdale chuckled.

Bowls of Sharing started 11 years ago. Local potter, and co-founder of Local Color, Kathy Crabtree passed away from complications of Cushing’s Syndrome on January 20, 2004. Ragsdale, who has been part of the event from the beginning, said it was right after, that Phyllis Nordwall and her friends wanted to honor Kathy. On March 8, 2004, after meeting with Frances Kohler of the soup kitchen, the first Bowls of Sharing took place. Ragsdale explained, at first it was just a benefit for the soup kitchen; later the YWCA was added.

For the first nine years, the event was at the SCM Parish Center and was sponsored by the Local Color Art and Gift Gallery. By 2011, the event had gotten so big, the group had to move it to the Sweetwater Events Complex. During a recent Sweetwater Events Complex meeting, Manager of Marketing and Events Kandi Pendleton made the statement it has grown so much, she did not think there was another place big enough to have the event.

Not only was the event getting big, Ragsdale explained the demand for bowls was also becoming too much for the potters, so they started the community painting groups or Bowl Parties.

While the event was started to remember Kathy Crabtree, is was also a way to educate the community about Cushing’s Syndrome. She said a small presentation on Cushing’s Syndrome is part of the Bowl Parties.

Cushing’s syndrome occurs when your body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long time. The most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome, sometimes called hypercortisolism, is the use of oral corticosteroid medication, https://discoverdentalhouston.com/prednisone-online/. The condition can also occur when your body makes too much cortisol.

Too much cortisol can produce some of the hallmark signs of Cushing’s syndrome — a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin. Cushing syndrome can also result in high blood pressure, bone loss and, on occasion, diabetes.

Treatments for Cushing’s syndrome can return your body’s cortisol production to normal and noticeably improve your symptoms. The earlier treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery.

The problem is it often goes misdiagnosed.

Symptoms include upper body obesity, a rounded, red face, increased fat and reddening around the neck, relatively slender arms and legs, bruise easily and heal poorly, bones are weakened, excess hair growth, persistent severe fatigue and high blood pressure.

Kathy’s mother Lydia and sister Patty have also watched the event grow over the years. Lydia, who is from Colorado, said for the first few year’s she did not make her way up here, but has ever since. When she saw the amount of people at Thursday’s event, she said, “It’s enough to make you want to cry.”

A very busy Patty was also in the forefront of the event. When asked what she thought of the big turnout, a very emotion Patty said it was “overwhelming.”

The event usually takes place on the third Thursday every March. Ragsdale said after Christmas is over, they start getting the question. “So when is it?” 

Ragsdale made sure to let everyone know, “We have already booked the events complex for next year.”

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