By Kathy L. Collins
Join breast cancer survivor Dawn Galia and others at the third annual Pink Your Pony Trail Ride. This unique fundraiser will be held on Saturday, October 11 with a 10 a.m. trail ride at Bay Lake Stables, owned by Gary and Cindy Timbles. The stable is located at 4617 Garland Branch Rd. in Dover. Cost to participate and help “Saddle up for a Cure” is just $15.
For an additional $5, lunch will be included.There will be prizes for the best decorated pink pony as well as raffle prizes. The two hour trail ride will take guests along the Dover Road Trails. All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Outreach Clinic, Brandon.Galia, who is the executive director of Center Place, said, “I wanted to pick a non-profit this year that was local, so I chose the Outreach Clinic.”The Outreach Clinic is a safety net for thousands of area residents who do not have health insurance.
Deborah Meegan, executive director of the Outreach Clinic, said, “We are grateful to Dawn Galia and Rose Foloran and all the volunteers who want to raise not only awareness about Breast Cancer and the importance of early detection, but also to give back to the community by providing screening, diagnosis and treatment for women in our community who cannot afford it. We are contacted every week by women who have no insurance and have detected a lump in their breast. Finding a lump is scary, but having no insurance can mean the difference between life and death.”Last year’s event raised $1,000 for The Vera Bradley Foundation For Breast Cancer Research and 42 riders participated. The goal is higher this year. The community can help by becoming a sponsor for as low as $50. Each year this event grows bigger and bigger.Galia, a breast cancer survivor, started the event because her horse, Glory, was her therapy after diagnosis and surgery. Guests do not have to be a horse owner or even ride to participate in this event.
Those interested in being a part of the third annual Pink Your Pony Trail Ride, contact Galia at 841-1409 or via e-mail at djgalia@gmail.com by Saturday, October 4. For more information on the Outreach Clinic, visit www.brandonoutreachclinic.com.
