At Dakota Dental, we care about our community’s health and well-being beyond their oral health. That’s why we decided to be matching sponsors for myTalk 107.1’s Project Down and Dirty event, donating to a cause we firmly believe in, Brave Like Gabe.
What is Project Down and Dirty?
Project Down and Dirty is an award-winning reality radio show on myTalk 107.1. Since its inception 12 years ago, it’s raised over a million dollars for Twin Cities charities.
How it works: During the annual fundraising event, a slew of myTalk hosts pick and play a sport, culminating in a competition. Each set of show hosts chooses a charity they’re playing for.
This year, the myTalk hosts competed in pickleball, the latest sports craze to sweep the nation. The event ran from October 11th through the 13th and saw the hosts learn, train, and compete all in the three-day span! The event culminated in an exhibition tournament at Lucky Shots Pickleball Club in Northeast Minneapolis. All to raise money for charity (and – of course – have a good time!)
The Story Behind Brave Like Gabe
Dakota Dental was a matching sponsor for “The Bradley and Dawn Show,” whose chosen charity was Brave Like Gabe. This organization started as a hashtag in support of local professional runner Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald as she sought treatment for her third battle with an incurable rare salivary gland cancer back in 2017.
While Gabe passed away in June 2019, her legacy and foundation live on. “Brave Like Gabe” raises around $500,000 annually for treatments and research grants for rare forms of cancer. It also encourages others to come forward and bravely share their personal struggles.
More information is available at www.bravelikegabe.org
Why Dakota Dental Got Involved
To support this cause, Dakota Dental partnered with “The Bradley and Dawn Show” as a matching sponsor. This means we matched people’s donations to the cause, making a more significant impact than otherwise possible. It was our honor to contribute to such a great cause.
To speak more on the subject, our very own Dr. Bennett Isabella spoke to Bradley and Dawn on their show. As some of you may know, Bradley is one of Dr. Isabella’s patients and has been for quite some time!
“I’ve been an avid runner – I mean my entire life, so I knew about Gabe Grunewald as a professional runner. And I’d been at races actually before with her husband, Justin. And so it was meaningful on a personal level there.
And then the other thing is…she passed from salivary gland cancer. And oral cancer screenings is a big part of why we really push regular dental visits. Because it’s something that we actually do. I don’t grab people’s tongues with gauze and move them around for fun. We’re looking for something suspicious. And if we can find something early on, it’s much more treatable. And so, for us, this was a charity that made sense.” – Dr. Bennett Isabella
This year, Project Down and Dirty raised over $116,526 for local charities! Of that, $23,626 was raised for “Brave Like Gabe.” We’re proud to have been a matching sponsor this year and will continue finding ways to support our local community here in Minnesota and beyond!
If you’re inspired to donate to this worthwhile cause, here’s where to support Brave Like Gabe’s ongoing work.
Commitment to Our Minnesota Community
We love being local dentists, serving the Apple Valley residents and beyond. Getting involved in charities we believe in is just one way we show it. Learn more about our community involvement.
When you need a new local dentist, consider making an appointment at Dakota Dental.