Saddle Up® for St. Jude Event Raises $3,200 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Trail Riders enjoyed horseback riding for a good cause

Held on October 6^th at the Peach Orchard Equestrian Trail, the Saddle Up for St. Jude event raised $3,200 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® and its mission of finding cures and saving children from cancer and other deadly diseases.

Thirty riders participated in the trail ride led by David and Carolyn Dudley.  Prizes were awarded to those who raised the most donations. Deanna Boyd won the grand prize which included horse tack and a gift card. Prizes were provided by Polk County Farmers, Mena Feed, Caleb Payton Horseshoeing, Travis Ross Horseshoeing, Not Just Chicken, Charlotte Wiles-Avon, Wild Horse Pawn of Waldron, Wal-Mart, Atwoods, and Cavender’s of Fort Smith.

“Saddle Up for St. Jude blends crucial support and awareness for St. Jude with a fun experience for the whole family,” said Amanda Epperson, coordinator of the event. “Every person who participates in a Saddle Up for St. Jude event helps the hospital find cures and save children.”

Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world. No child is ever denied treatment because of a family’s inability to pay. With a daily operating cost of $1.7 million, St. Jude depends mostly on public contributions and fundraising events, like the Polk County Saddle Up for St. Jude event.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital’s research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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