Gamecock Equestrians to Participate in Curing Kids Cancer Event on Saturday
April 4, 2014
Editor’s note – The following press release was written by University of South Carolina equestrian Kelsey Hart. Hart is in a Public Relations Campaigns (JOUR 531) course in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and this press release is part of her group’s campaign project.
COLUMBIA, S.C.- Two teams of Gamecock equestrians are set to participate in Saturday’s “Pull for Curing Kids Cancer”, set to take place at 10 a.m. at the MAD Performance Training gym, located on South Saluda Avenue. The event will benefit Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital Cancer & Blood Disorders Clinic.
“We have a great relationship with the Curing Kids Cancer organization and I’m proud we have two teams competing in Saturday’s fire truck pull,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “The girls have spent a lot of time raising money for this year’s fire truck pull, and they’ve also spent a lot of time training for it. Their participation says volumes about the character of the girls on this year’s team and we’re very proud to have them represent us on Saturday.”
Teams of 10 people will race to see who can pull a fire truck 50 feet in the fastest time. All-female teams or teams of participants under the age of 18 are allowed to have 12 people pull. Each team will pull on behalf of or in memory of a child affected by pediatric cancer. Teams must raise $200 to compete but the team that raises the most money will receive a one-second advantage in the competition.
South Carolina’s equestrian team will represent two of the 22 registered teams competing in the fire truck pull. The organization hoped to raise $6,000 from the fundraiser. The two equestrian teams combined have already raised $2,000.
The first equestrian team will pull in memory of Aohdan who passed away last fall from neuroblastoma. The team members include Allie Kraybill, Samantha Nicholson, Kelsey Hart, Jordan Brown, Cody McMillion, Sarah Bouchard, Morgan Hale, Katie Kopf, Rachel Roter, Johnna Letchworth and team captains Alison Ceresani and Amber Henter.
The second equestrian team will pull in honor of Sophie who is battling leukemia. The team members include Adele Norton, Samantha Kraus, Elizabeth deGolian, Alexa Anthony, Abigail Pait, Kelsey Urban, Katherine Schmidt, Sam Chiodo, Melanie Cormier, Haiden De Jane, Erin Fry and Sydney Smith.
Curing Kids Cancer, founded in 2005, has raised more than $4 million for pediatric cancer research. Curing Kids Cancer is dedicated to funding cutting-edge cancer research. It believes that targeted therapies offer great hope in providing better cures for childhood cancer with fewer side effects.
