9 rescued miners plan charity, festival

WINDBER, Pa. (AP) -- Nine workers who were trapped in a flooded mine for more than three days are forming a new charitable foundation that will benefit from a three-day festival marking the anniversary of their rescue.
Officials in Windber, about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, formally announced the festival from July 25-27 to mark the anniversary of the rescue. The event, which organizers hope will attract 10,000 visitors each day, will include music, amusement rides, fireworks and food vendors.
The men, employees of the Black Wolf Coal Co., became trapped inside the mine July 24 when they breached an abandoned mine filled with millions of gallons of water.
After 77 hours in the flooded mine, about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, all nine were shuttled up through a shaft drilled by rescue workers after surviving on little more than a corned beef sandwich split nine ways.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Miracle Miners Community Foundation, which is still in its infancy. The foundation, which is seeking nonprofit status, would provide scholarships and better health coverage to the nation's coal towns.
"We're looking for a way to thank everybody for what they've done for us. We want to give something back to the mining communities," miner John Unger said.
Unger brainstormed the idea with the other miners and his second cousin, Barbara Brown, a New Jersey public relations specialist.