Craig Daily Press

You won’t find a bake sale or Girl Scout cookies.

What you would find when heading out to the Wyman Museum fundraiser Saturday was anything but a typical fundraiser.

A 5,000-square-foot inflatable arena.

Helmets, chest guards, markers and paintballs flying about 100 miles per hour.

This is Beth Cervera and Darrel Jorgenson Jr.’s idea of a fundraiser.

The duo created the “fun on the run paintball challenge” and travel 10 months out of the year bringing paintball tournaments to towns such as Craig in an effort to raise money for what they deem “worthy causes.”

“This is our second year doing this,” Jorgenson said. “We love it. Paintball is a growing sport and we are trying to showcase it all around the country.”

Unfortunately for the museum and the traveling duo, the originally scheduled two-day event turned in to a one day, four-team free-for-all.

“People must think it’s more expensive than it is,” Cervera said. “But it really isn’t.”

Four teams — the Fireballs, Blitz Kreig, Los Fantasmos and the Snow Bears — with three members each, battled it out for the $150 top prize.

The Fireballs came away victorious, but overall, Cervera and Jorgenson said they were “disappointed” with the turn out.

“Some places we travel to, we have lines waiting to play for more than two hours,” Jorgensen said. “I don’t know what it is, but nobody really came out this weekend.”

The entry fee was $100 per person, which Cervera said was probably a big factor in the small turnout. Sponsorship played a role in the teams that did attend, she said.

Wagner Construction, Village Inn, Sign Source and Mather’s Bar and Grill were a few of the sponsors for the four teams.

“People just have to realize there are a lot of sponsors out there who are willing to play a part in these type of events,” Cervera said. “It’s a tax write off for them, and the money raised goes to the museum. What more could you ask for.”

For those who didn’t catch the weekend action, Jorgenson said not to worry.

“We are having open play all week long,” he said. “Come on out and give it a try. Where else can you take your family and shoot them without getting in trouble?”

Fun On The Run is fully equipped with all gear needed to participate.

During the open play this week, $20 will get you all needed safety equipment, a marker (paintball gun), a CO2 canister and 140 rounds of ammunition.

If you turn Rambo and run out of paintballs, an additional 140 rounds can be purchased for $5.

A wristband can be purchased for $50, enabling competitors to participate in 15 total games.

If interested parties have their own equipment, $5 gets you three games, and $20 gets you an all-day unlimited play pass.

“We have this arena set up just like the ones you see on television.” At Jorgenson said. “We are part of the National Professional Paintball League, and we carry a $2 million insurance policy, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Except maybe a little bit of paint in your face.”

Jorgenson said the sport is for anybody, not just hunters or what he called “jocks.”

“The little guys that don’t play basketball or football are usually the one’s that do really well at this sport,” he said. “It’s the little sneaky guys that excel at this. Last year, at the world championships, first-place was $1 million.

“People all around the world participate in paintball, why shouldn’t Craig be a part of it?”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com