Tough Enough To Wear Pink VIP Day at Viaero Comstock Windmill Festival

Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Tough Enough to Wear Pink was definitely the theme for the Extreme Bullriding Tour at the Viaero Comstock Windmill Festival on June 9th. On that day the red carpet was rolled out for breast cancer survivor Sara Delgado for a Tough Enough To Wear Pink VIP Day at the festival! The project was the brainchild of 9 year old Abby McDonald a fourth grader from Aurora, Nebraska. Sara is a special friend of Abby who is also the current Extreme Bullriding Tour’s Miss Extreme. Doctors discovered Sara had breast cancer in September 2006. The diagnosis was made following the birth of her youngest son, Kaleb. Sara and her husband, Cesar, also have an older son, Ethan, who is 6. She has a rapid moving cancer which has developed to Stage 4 breast cancer. Sara has a very positive attitude helped by the support of her family and friends. (Photo: Sara and her husband, Cesar)

Preparation and promotions for Saturday’s big day began on Thursday night when Royal Wade Kimes had Abby join him on stage for his performance to tell everyone about her project. Wade, who also lost a friend to breast cancer, is a big supporter of rodeo’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign. Ginger ten Bensel of KHAS TV attended Friday’s bull riding and interviewed Abby adding their help to promote breast cancer awareness and insure a successful day for Sara. On Friday night promotion for the event was continued when Adam Smith or radio station 98.1 KRVN, The River, also put Abby on stage during their segment to invite everyone to the bull riding on Saturday and to participate in the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” day. (Photo: Abby and Royal Wade Kimes)

When Sara arrived at the festival she received complimentary day passes from Viaero Comstock Music Series for not only herself but for her husband, her mother, Chris Bieber, and 8 other family members. Her Tough Enough To Wear Pink VIP Day also included a $100 food vendor card plus access to the Viaero VIP tent which included food, drinks and prizes. Pepsi Bottling Company also provided drinks for the day to all participants. Throughout the day several groups presented them with T-shirts and other items. They were also provided the use of a golf cart for the day. Sara definitely appreciated this. The special VIP Day was arranged with Viaero Comstock Music Series by the Extreme Bullriding Tour and its presenting sponsor RodeoAttitude.com with the help of Corral West Western Wear. (Phot: Extreme Team, Sara and Cesar with festival founder, Henry Nuxoll)

Besides being the guest of honor at the bull riding Sara got another surprise. Both Friday and Saturday Abby sold tickets for a 50/50 drawing which was held at the end of the bull riding on Saturday. .The winner of the 50/50 drawing received half of the money raised and the other half was donated by Abby to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. During the two days Abby raised $1100. The gentleman who won the drawing presented his half of the winnings to a very grateful Sara. Abby's goal this summer is to raise $5000 to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation on behalf of the Extreme Bullriding Tour and herself. (Photo: 50/50 winner giving Sara money)

Corral West Western Wear has provided the Extreme Bullriding Tour with special pink shirts to wear at this event and others planned for future events in support of their goal of raising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and awareness of breast cancer. Production managers, Todd Crase and Ryan Skillett were given two special pink cowboy hats by Miss Extreme to wear to complete their “pink” look. Bullfighter, Brandon Lindsay added his pink look with a cool pair of pink shorts. The bull riders wore lots of pink including pink arm bands. A special bull was designated as the Corral West Pink Ribbon Bull the rider that drew this bull was wearing pink and therefore received special gifts from Corral West. (Photo: Todd Crase all in pink)

During the performance announcer, Blaine Partridge not only introduced Sara but asked that all breast cancer survivors stand and then they were joined by all cancer survivors as the crowd acknowledged their fighting spirit. Extreme Bullriding Tour presenting sponsor RodeoAttitude.com CEO, Cindy Meyers said, “We wish we could give a VIP Day to ever cancer survivor but it just isn’t possible. Maybe by doing this for Sara we will in some small way raise awareness of breast cancer and the strength of these cancer patients. My father had breast cancer and so did my grandmother. I think everyone knows someone who has been affected by this disease.” (Photo: One section of the crowd at Saturday's bull riding.)

With the Bullriding over it was time for Sara and her entire family to meet with Dustin Evans and the members of Western Underground. They were wonderful, poising for photos and giving everyone autographs. To top the night off Sara was escorted backstage to meet Big and Rich and Cowboy Troy. The three men also poised with Sara for pictures. There were over 16,000 people waiting to hear the concert but that wasn’t a problem for Sara. She was escorted to her special “front and center” seats set up in advance by the staff of the Viaero Comstock Windmill Festival where her entire family as well as many members of the Extreme Bullriding Tour were already seated. (Photo: Sara at meeting with Dustin Evans and Western Underwood)

Todd Crase, Production Manager for the Extreme Bullriding Tour purchased a pink cowboy hat and had all the bull riders, bull fighters and staff autograph it and presented to Sara, a souvenir of her special day. As the sky filled with stars and fireworks Sara’s Tough Enough To Wear Pink VIP Day came to an end. Viaero Comstock Windmill Series, the Extreme Bullriding Tour including the bull riders and personnel, RodeoAttitude.com and Corral West hope the memories for Sara and her family will last forever. We want to thank Sara for helping us raise awareness of breast cancer. Her courage will live with us forever! (Photo: Sara gets a special hat)