Bullhook Community Health Center Guppy Derby set for Feb. 3

The 3rd Annual Bullhook Community Health Center Guppy Derby, set for Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Havre Elks Lodge, is a fundraiser for the center's patient enhancement programs where contestants can race a fish for a winner's purse.

The event, which hadn't been run for nearly a decade until it was revived in 2022 by the health center's board, will see contestants purchase a guppy to compete in a series of races set in parallel trenches. Proceeds will go toward a program to help Bullhook patients afford prescription drugs.

Board Chair Mike Rappold said the center has a fund that they fill with proceeds from their snack bar, all of which goes to support people in dire need of medication but have trouble affording it.

Rappold said proceeds from the event will also go toward Havre Helping Haven vouchers that they give to those who require necessities during the winter months, as well as to purchase personal hygiene products for patients in need.

He said the event will also feature a live and silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and taco in a bag for $5-a-piece.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," he said.

Rappold said he joined Bullhook's board four years ago and one of the things he immediately wanted to do was set up fundraising events, and when some other members of the board mentioned the Guppy Derby, something he hadn't heard of before, and explained it he knew that was something he wanted to bring back.

"I looked at it and was immediately like, 'Oh, we definitely need to dust this off,'" he said.

He said the center is always trying to provide for their patients as much as possible, but soliciting donations can be emotionally difficult work.

He said he knows that the community is very giving, but they get a lot of requests for financial support, so he wanted to create an event that people wanted to be involved with and would be happy to contribute to.

Thankfully, Rappold said, the Havre Elks Lodge generously offered them a space for the event, and they managed to sell all of their guppies last year, so it seems to be popular.

He said he wants to keep the event going every year and encouraged people to get involved with a fun event to distract from the cold.

He said there are 30 guppies available for participants to purchase and name and profile in preparation for the races to come.

Contestants will be given a straw they can use to guide their gilled competitors down the trench, with a winner's purse for the first and second place competitors.

"Sometimes they need motivation from their coach," he said.

Rappold said the event got a lot of support last year from local businesses as well as Montana State University-Northern and he's hoping they will continue to draw a crowd.

Registration is at 6 p.m. and races begin at 7 p.m.

Those interested in participating can call Jenn at 406-395-6940.