Wade Wheatley

In 2004, just before I left for the Dallas Tour Finale, my mom asked me if I thought the contestants at the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo would consider wearing pink shirts during one performance in support of breast cancer awareness.

She had gotten together with Karl Stressman at Wrangler and put together a breast cancer campaign for the western community.

I told her I would do it to support her – some of my friends would do it – but I wasn’t sure about everyone else. After all, it was a pink shirt.

When I got to the arena on the night of the event, I couldn’t believe it. Bob Tallman and the other announcers had on pink shirts – the chute help and bullfighters were in pink – and when the grand entry gates opened, everyone rode out in pink shirts.

I am proud of my mom, proud of Karl Stressman and proud of everyone who have pitched in to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer.