Tuesday, Oct, 11, 2011 • Sheriff’s Posse raises money for St. Jude
Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, edition of the Lassen County Times.
Local equestrians saddled up to raise money for a leading cancer research institute.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Posse held its annual St. Jude’s Fundraiser Trail Ride near the upper trails of Susanville Ranch Park. Money raised from the event goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With donations, St. Jude can treat patients regardless of a family’s ability to pay. People across the country participate in Saddle Up for St. Jude, a volunteer-based fundraiser.
Participants in the Lassen County Sheriff Posse St. Jude fundraiser stop for a quick water break at Susanville Ranch Park.According to posse member Harry Weir, the posse raised $2,000.
Nineteen people participated in the horse ride, while other posse members barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs and friends and family gathered for lunch.
Gayle Triplett, A.R. Danes, Shasta Young and David Granlees provide musical entertainment during the Lassen County Sheriff Posse’s St. Jude fundraiser.Jim Jeffords, A.R. Danes, Shasta Young, Gayle Triplett and posse member David Granlees provided a small concert.
According to Weir, Jack Haslem started the fundraiser, about six to eight years ago, and it was something he was passionate about.
Haslem died recently and the posse held a moment of silence in his honor. Haslem’s wife, Pat, was also in attendance. This year, Weir and Ernie Coe organized the event.
Karinna Lepe leads her horse Glory to the water bucket after a seven-mile ride in Susanville Ranch Park.Participants ask people to sponsor them and additional money came from raffle items, including two saddles, and a silent auction.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Posse is a non-profit corporation that hosts equestrian events in Lassen County. Money raised from its events are used for scholarships and to give back to the community.
Weir said the St. Jude fundraiser is the only non-horse program to which the posse donates.
Many of the participants said they took part in the ride to help the children. Some have been involved since the annual ride began. Posse member John Hershberger said he started participating “to help the kids out and to come out and enjoy the great outdoors.”
He said it is important for the sheriff’s posse because it is a community-based group and they like to get out and help the community as much as possible.
Desirea Dworzecki, front, and Sandy Jansen ride their horses along a trail at Susanville Ranch Park during the Lassen County Sheriff Posse’s St. Jude fundraiser.For others, it was their first time participating in the St. Jude ride.
Rebecca Springs, 13, said she joined because she likes helping kids.
“If I were in their condition, I’d want people to help me, too,” she said.
This also marked the first year Desiree Dworzecki was involved and she rode along to provide any help. She is a veterinarian assistant and said she was “on call more or less if something happened to the horses.”
Nick Retterath, left, Joe Lavacot, Michael Gribble, Robby Samra and Rick Kapuschinsky head out for the trails during the Lassen County Sheriff Posse’s St. Jude fundraiser.According to stjude.org, the Saddle Up For St. Jude helps people like Darcy who was diagnosed with atypical teratoid/rhadoib tumor at the age of 4. She and her siblings loved riding horses and was already an accomplished rider and roper and had already earned a championship belt buckle.
She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and her parents found St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where Darcy received chemotherapy and radiation. Darcy, now 6, visits St. Jude’s for regular checkups.
