By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The annual event for Tough Enough to Wear Pink (TETWP) will be held this year on October 15-16 at the Clark County Fairgrounds arena. The local equestrian event has hosted hundreds of barrel racers since it was established in 2013.
The charitable event sponsored by Wrangler has brought in over $51,300 locally in financial support to area recipients in their own battles with cancer. The movement is to raise awareness and funds in relation to fighting breast cancer.
The TETWP movement was created by entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor Terry Wheatley to bring the rodeo and western community together and rally against breast cancer. In 15 years the charity has raised over $33 million for breast cancer charities in the United States and Canada. A majority of funds raised stays local.
“The Moapa Valley Riders Club started the event here in 2013,” said Tracey Thornton. “They really wanted to help me out after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, I had good insurance and I had the idea of doing this to help get support to other local women fighting breast cancer.”
The local women who will benefit this year are KaeLyne Pendleton and Nadene Mackert.
“This year Nels and Teresa Bowen are coordinating a team roping competition,” said Thornton. “That roping event will be Friday night with the barrel racing on Saturday.”
Check-in starts at 5:30 pm on October 15 and then 9:00 am the following morning.
A large portion of the entry fee proceeds goes to the women fighting cancer.
But the event also holds a huge raffle with many great prizes. All of the raffle proceeds go to the local women. Anyone can purchase raffle tickets which are available at the Foremost Realty office at 2885 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. in Logandale or through Venmo going to @Tracey-thornton-10
There will also be multiple vendors in attendance on event day, including the Lemonade Stand and Candy done by Thornton’s granddaughter Bailey.
“We usually draw in around 175-200 barrel racers,” stated Thornton. “That doesn’t even count the roping competitors.”
The barrel racing will be open category and a youth category which includes ages 10 and under. It is open to both males or females.
“We have been very fortunate so far,” explained Tracey. “We have already received over $9,000 in donations for payouts. Our goal is at least $15,000, but we definitely want more to help out these gals.”
Other donations include championship belt buckles for the winners of each division from BEX owner Jason Adams.
True Value donated a top-notch BBQ grill for the raffle. Many other prizes have been donated as well.
“There are a lot of generous people out here,” observed Tracey Thornton who is also a real estate agent at Foremost Realty.
The event is still looking for donations of both raffle prize items and cash donations.
For more information about the Moapa Valley TETWP event, to donate, or to arrange vendor space, contact Thornton at (702) 370-2000.
