Chicks N' Chaps fundraiser teaches women about rodeo
<p>A Chicks N' Chaps participant rides a fake bull during the rodeo clinic last year at the county fair.</p>
SANDERS COUNTY- A group of women from Sanders County known as Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer who raise money for cancer patients is hosting an event at the annual fair this coming week. The Chicks N’ Chaps event at the Sanders County Fair combined with an entry in the demolition derby will raise much needed money that will stay in the county.
The Chicks N’ Chaps event will include a rodeo clinic for women. Experienced rodeo cowboys and cowgirls will teach participants the basics of riding rough stock, roping and what the rodeo clowns do to keep riders safe. The event will also include an auction, raffle and a dinner provided for participants. They will also have their own section for the rodeo.
Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer board member Suzie VonHeeder said the event raises money specifically for people suffering from cancer in Sanders County. She indicated that in addition to raising funds, the event raises awareness about breast cancer in the county.
“One hundred percent of what we do goes back into Sanders County,” said Vonheeder. “Everything we do at the fairgrounds, all the donations, all the entry fees goes to help cancer patients if they need to go to Missoula for treatment, if they need medicine, all of it goes to Sanders County.”
The rodeo clinic aspect of the Chicks N’ Chaps fundraiser will demonstrate to women what happens on a rodeo circuit. Participants will witness the behind-the-scenes action of putting on a rodeo. They will be allowed to stand in the protective barrel that rodeo clowns use to avoid injury during events in addition to learning how to rope and ride.
“They will get to see the stock, all the horses and bulls. They will get to see what it’s like to be the clown,” said VonHeeder. “We have a gal coming from the University of Montana who barrel races and she is going to show them how that works. They learn how the whole circuit works and they have a lot of fun.”
VonHeeder said the clinic was open to all participants regardless of experience. The women will be instructed on a one-to-one personal basis by experienced cowboys and girls.
For the demolition derby at the Sanders County Fair, Chicks N’ Chaps will be represented by a pink car in the powderpuff event. Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer Secretary Kristy Sheehan said the car has been painted pink and is ready to compete in the derby. This will be the first year that the fundraiser has featured a vehicle in the event that closes out the Sanders County Fair on Sunday night.
“We wanted to bring more awareness to the cause and what we do,” said Sheehan.
The Chicks N’ Chaps fundraisers are unique to Montana. The events began in 2008 in Missoula. The first event was put together in three months with 170 women and raised $20,000 for local charities.