EAGLE, Colo. – When the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign was established in ProRodeo 13 years ago, it was to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
For some communities, the campaign is about giving locally and fighting all levels of cancer. That’s the case with the TETWP at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, which takes place Wednesday, July 19-Saturday, July 22, at the Eagle County Fairgrounds.
“We partner with the Shaw Regional Cancer Center, and it’s really amazing that we get to benefit its patients,” said Hanna Albertson, chairwoman of the fair and rodeo’s advisory committee. “I think it’s important that we give back locally.”
It is, and those at the cancer center in nearby Edwards, Colo.
“The Eagle County Fair and Rodeo came to us seven years ago about partnering when they started the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign,” said Christine Albertson, community outreach and events manager for the center. “They donate funds raised on Friday (July 21), with 50 cents from each ticket sold going to Shaw. Some of the kids want to donate their proceeds from the animals they show at the fair.”
Christine Albertson has been with Shaw since 2012, and in that time, Tough Enough to Wear Pink has contributed $27,785 to the cancer center. That money is utilized in various ways to assist patients with their treatments.
“We get funding through a lot of entities, but we appreciate the relationship we have with the fair and rodeo,” she said. “The rodeo attracts lots of people from all over, and funding is a great asset. The money helps with patients who need extra services. It helps with our social workers, nutritionist and other areas.
“The money is definitely needed for those patient services.”
That includes Jack’s Place, a 12-room cancer caring home.
“Patients come and stay on a pay-what-you-can philosophy,” Christine Albertson said. “They can come with their caregiver. We get a lot of patients from out of town. They might have five days of treatment, and this lodge allows them to stay without spending so much money.”
There are also services for patients using Jack’s Place: yoga, meditation, acupuncture. There also is a full kitchen, so the patients can take groceries and prepare their own food.
“It’s just a nice place to relax, especially in the wintertime when it’s snowing.”
Some of the benefits are because of the generosity of so many who give to the cancer center, including the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo.