Stache Crawl is a fundraiser with heart

Hundreds gathered at the Starboard Restaurant in Dewey Beach July 15 to don mustaches and make a ceremonial bar crawl. From the outside, this wacky Dewey tradition looks like more shenanigans from the local party beach, and while it is quite a party, it's also a heartfelt ode to a friend which began 11 years ago.

When Chad Minix's friend Kellen James Poultney passed away suddenly in college, he and his friends were devastated. As his loved ones describe him, Poultney was full of humility, had an amazing sense of humor and was admired by those around him. He was the type of person who lived out loud, and that first year without him, 25 of his friends organized a bar crawl in his honor. That year, they actually grew mustaches to commemorate their buddy.

Today, Minix continues to organize the the event which has grown to approximately 800 people annually. Many participants still grow out elaborate mustaches, and some wear ridiculously wonderful fake ones. It all begins at The Starboard, where everyone picks up their T-shirts and a list of the participating bars in Dewey, and then it's on. During the crawl, participants can take pictures of their outfits and 'staches, and post them on Instagram for judging. Prizes are given out for the best get-ups at the end of the day, back at the Starboard, and 100 percent of the proceeds are given to the KJP Foundation, which helps those in need locally.

Steve "Monty" Montgomery, owner of the Starboard, loves hosting fundraisers like this one. "It's about honoring the memory of someone who was so loved, and about putting the fun in fundraising. Those are two things that are extremely important to us here at The Starboard," said Montgomery.

For Poultney's family, the weekend brings back wonderful memories of Kellen and a sense of joy. His mother Connie Poultney said the foundation and the 'Stache Crawl are a way that his memory lives on, and that it has made the process of grief more bearable. "Each year, I see Kel's smile in the face of the crawlers," she said. "We are forever grateful to the Dewey Beach community and, specifically Mr. Montgomery, for not only allowing us to use the Starboard as our home base, but always going an extra step in humbly supporting our efforts."

This year's crawl raised $12,000, which will anonymously be given out through the KJP Foundation to local families in need. The funds will help students obtain school supplies and before- and after-school care, help children afford sports camps, and provide holiday gifts for families in need. Montgomery, Minix and the Poultney family continue to be grateful for the opportunity to remember Kellen, and bring out some community joy in his memory.

For more information or to make a donation, go to www.Facebook.com and find Stache Crawl.