Get Involved

The goal of the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign is to rally the rodeo and western industry around a cause that touches too many of our competitors, families and fans. 

Rodeo committees can join the campaign by designating a performance to “Tough Enough to Wear Pink”.  Other western events can join in the campaign as well!  The campaign can not only raise awareness for breast cancer, it can raise significant funds for treatment and research – and – can provide a campaign that can increase attendance for your event and provide a positive public relations message for your event and the sport of rodeo.

Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo

The color of the chutes and gates as you entered the Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo provided a beautiful pink backdrop for the three performances held March 16-18. PINK. And all around the cowboys, contract personnel, vendors and ticket holders proved that pink ain’t for sissies.

For the second year the rodeo committee pushed the Tough Enough to Wear Pink initiative to raise awareness of and funds for Breast Cancer. The rodeo kicked off it’s advertising of the rodeo and Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign in conjunction with the Lake City Downtown Action Committee. The Downtown Action Committee hosts monthly movies in the park usually from March through November. This year they agreed to move their opening to February and allowed the Rodeo Committee to paint downtown pink. Pink bows were put on everything from lamp posts to street lights. The Courthouse and adjacent Annex along with City Hall offices sported huge pink bows as did the park restrooms which were still under construction. Rodeo Committee members introduced their new mascot, Oscar the Rodeo Bull. Breast cancer jewelry and t-shirts were sold and the rodeo and its’ fund raising events were advertised.

The Committee hosted a week of activities leading up to the rodeo all built around the idea of raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. A golf tournament raised just under $10,000 through hole sponsorships and entry fees.

On Saturday, March 10, the community turned out for a barbeque dinner accompanied by silent and live auction. With Aubrey Bailey serving as auctioneer, Steve Briscoe and Bob Smith busily took bids on items ranging from a hand made breast cancer quilt to a pink golf cart. In keeping with the theme of the party, the auctioneer donned a pink tux, top hat and cane. The American Cancer Society and Jacksonville’s Baptist Hospital provided free breast cancer information and kits to all in attendance. Additionally, breast cancer jewelry and t-shirts were available at the dinner and during each rodeo performance.

The rodeo parade held on Saturday, March 17 was awash in pink with several breast cancer survivors on horseback and the special rodeo float. Saturday night the cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo personnel joined the committee as they covered the arena in pink as checks were presented to the American Cancer Society and Buddy Check 12 programs. The Committee announced that they were establishing a crisis fund with part of the fund raising proceeds to assist those with immediate needs during times of crises.

When all was said and done, the Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo proudly announces it met it’s goal by raising $50,000 during the 2007 campaign. The group wishes to again thank all those who participated in our rodeo as well as all event sponsors. We are grateful to have such a supportive community and thank all who participated through the purchase of items including tickets to the rodeo.

 

Gunnison, Colorado Cattlemen’s Days
2006 Success Story of the Year Raising $90,000!

Through a combination of sponsorship packages, auctions, dances and a host of community activities the small community of Gunnison raised BIG dollars for breast cancer charities in 2006. Their success story is part of the “Get Involved” packet you will receive when registering your event.

Here are just a few of the ways they reached their goal:

• Two restaurants challenged each other to sell the most TETWP merchandise and raise the most dollars. The loser agreed to wear pink chaps, pink shirt and hat while waiting tables or bartending at the other restaurant for three hours on a Saturday night.

• Other restaurants had special pink desserts or wine nights with all of the proceeds going to pink.

• The Gunnison Cattlewomen’s Association printed neckerchiefs with all the brands of the valley. They solicited $15.00 from each brand holder to put their brand on the neckerchief to defray the cost.

• Rodeo gold buckle booths (VIP booths) challenged each other to match dollars.

• An auto dealership advertised with pink ribbons in the windows of their new cars three weeks before the rodeo to show support and advertise pink while also committing to a donation.

• The Mayor declared July 13^th (our TETWP Rodeo Night) PINK DAY in the City of Gunnison.

• Retailers sold TETWP hats for $20.00. TETWP bracelets sold for $2-3.00.

• The 4-H clubs had contests for selling the most pink ribbons to retailers for display in their windows.

• Kids in the community set up a lemonade stand on Main Street to raise money.

• The roping and barrel racing clubs put on separate events to raise money for TETWP.

• A TETWP merchandise booth was available at the rodeo.

• Cattlemen’s Days donated $2.00 from each rodeo ticket sold.

• Sponsorship packages were sold to the community from $150 to $5,000 with a host of benefits for each

 Red Bluff Round-Up, April 21, 22 & 23, 2006

The Red Bluff Round-Up has chosen their final performance on Sunday, April 23rd as their “Sell-out Sunday in Support of Tough Enough to Wear Pink”.  The committee has partnered with St. Elizabeth Community Hospital to raise awareness and raise funds for their initiative.  For every ticket sold for Sunday’s performance, .50 will be donated to the St. Elizabeth Cancer fund in the fight against breast cancer. 

A special float is being designed for Tough Enough to Wear Pink for their annual Round-Up parade.

Both the Red Bluff Round-Up and St. Elizabeth Hospital have launched extensive media campaigns to get the entire community involved.

2005 Pike’s Peak or Bust Rodeo

Timing:  The Pike’s Peak Rodeo held their TETWP performance on Thursday night, which has historically been one of their weakest in attendance.  However, this event boosted attendance while providing the setting for a successful fund raising event.

Establishing enough leadtime is something they recommend to every rodeo committee to achieve the greatest success.

Charity:  The Pike’s Peak Rodeo chose the local chapter of Susan G. Komen as their partner.  This was a very active chapter with lots of “ground troops” to help the event within its large number of supporters.  SGK had its own newsletter, website and an e-mail list of members that was used to promote the event within its own sphere of influence. 

Rodeo committees should research the local breast cancer charities in their local communities to gain maximum support.

Volunteers:  Pike’s Peak had an outstanding volunteer coordinator who was a breast cancer survivor, knew all of the board members and knew the sport of rodeo.  This type of volunteer can be invaluable to rodeo committees.

Donations:  Pike’s Peak gave $1.00 for every fan on Pink Night who wore a pink shirt (or any other pink garment).  They gave $5.00 for every contestant wearing pink plus a $50.00 bonus to every contestant wearing pink that won their go-round.  The place was filled with pink!  (It is important to post the Pink Performance announcement to cowboys prior to the event.)

The Susan G. Komen group set up a booth to sell bandanas, bracelets and other pink items to increase the fans wearing pink and to raise additional funds.

Media:  Pike’s Peak extended their promotion out into the community as much as possible.  A pink convertible was loaned for the rodeo parade and other public appearances.  The Girls of the West (Queens at other rodeos) made dozens of promotional appearances wearing pink and talked about the TETWP promotion.

 

Other Ideas

Many rodeo committees are planning to sell Tough Enough to Wear Pink merchandise throughout their event to encourage participation from fans as well as raise additional dollars for charity.  Special pricing is offered to committees and fundraising organizations.

Think about giving raffle tickets to fans entering the gates wearing pink.  Winners could be drawn throughout the event for special “pink” prizes – pink ropes, caps, bandanas – one group is investigating giving away pink cellphones!
How about giving the best dressed person in pink a special prize – or having a contest in town for the most outrageously decorated pink cowboy hat?

The YMBL Rodeo in Beaumont, Texas painted the cowboy’s shirt pink on the local billboard advertising their rodeo.

One rodeo committee designated a special area for breast cancer survivors during their event – another had breast cancer survivors ride into the arena in a stagecoach to honor their courage. 

No contribution is too small!  It will be the efforts of many that make this western breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign successful.

Let us hear about your ideas!  katie@toughenoughtowearpink.com