Endure for the Cure and Ride for your Life!

Equestrian News Release
AUBURN, Ca.?The Arabian Horse Distance Riding Association (AHDRA) is sponsoring a charity event to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Scheduled for July 14-16, this is the sixth year for this multiple distance ride competition, to be held at the 800-acre Farmdale Park in East Peoria, Illinois. The three-day event is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and will thrill riders with many levels of competition in endurance and competitive trail riding. Friday and Saturday will feature a two-day, 100-mile endurance ride, as well as 50-mile rides both days. Each of the three days will also feature a 25-mile Limited Distance (LD) ride, as well as a 25-mile competitive trail ride. There will be novice trail rides of 12.5 miles on both Friday and Saturday, and Sunday?s events will include a driving competition.

?This is a great event for a good cause,? said April Hammer, who manages the event. An oncology nurse, Hammer has been proud to hand over a check each year to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and has been instrumental in raising more than $80,000 for breast cancer research. A global foundation, money received by the Komen Foundation is used for research, support and education.

Riders at the event will bring in donations from their personal networks and receive prizes donated by corporate and local sponsors. This year, Mortack, Inc. will donate a Kanavy Endurance Saddle to the rider who collects the most donations.

?Two years ago the saddle went to a rider that had just gone through chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer,? said Hammer.

The 2005 ride had more than 110 entries, and more are expected for this year?s event. Farmdale Park features single-track wooded trails, as well as open prairies with creek crossings. The large but primitive campground will have catered food available as well as a rider BBQ.

For more information about the event, contact event managers April Hammer or Bonnie Iten at (309) 698-1773, email april@endureforthecure.org, or visit http://www.endureforthecure.org. For more information about the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, visit http://www.komen.org.