Wild Pink Yonder coming to Olds

The breast cancer research fundraiser done on horseback, Wild Pink Yonder will make a stop in Olds on Aug. 23.

Olds Regional Exhibition's Kristy Hartt is chairing efforts to host the event and says a benefit barbecue will be held at Centennial Park that evening starting at 5 p.m., complete with live entertainment. The minimum donation requested is $5. Proceeds go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

In seven years, the Wild Pink Yonder trail ride has raised more than $800,000 for breast cancer research, challenging communities to raise the most money per capita. As well, the event comes with a competition to become the Pinkest Little Town in the West.

Jane Hurl, a former breast cancer patient and Wild Pink Yonder's charitable society president, started the ride.

The ride last came to town in 2009 and Olds raised about $8,000, Hartt says.

Mayor Judy Dahl is supportive of the event once again.

"It was a lot of fun. It raised a lot of awareness. Everybody relates pink to breast cancer and of course, when they see an event like that, they stop and listen," Dahl says.

Hartt says the ORE is providing accommodation for the riders, which can number as many as 30.

In Olds, there will also be a few contests to complement the fundraising barbecue. One is the Pretty in Pink Fashion Parade, to take place later that night at 7 p.m. Others include the pinkest business competition and what Hartt calls the "most macho man in pink competition."

"I think it will be a great day. We hope to get as many people out as possible," she says.

In addition to being an agriculture-themed event, Hartt says some ORE members have battled breast cancer themselves, making Wild Pink Yonder personal to many in their organization.

She adds if anybody is interested in volunteering on Aug. 23, they can email her at [email protected] or call the exhibition at 403-556-3770.

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