Lookin’ Good in Pink:
IFYR Spur for the Cure
Spur for the Cure Pink Night at the International Finals Youth Rodeo has become a favorite special event during the annual six-night trial. Representing the deep bond between the IFYR and the city of Shawnee, Pink Night seeks to give back and pay tribute to the community by spreading awareness of the importance of proper cancer screenings and wellness initiatives.
Since 2015, Spur for the Cure Pink Night has raised nearly $10,000 through ticket sales, monetary donations from attendees, IFYR sponsors and vendors. Funds raised are donated to the Shawnee Relay for Life organization, sanctioned by the American Cancer Society.
Pink-clad spectators flooded the grandstands of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in celebration of the third annual Pink Night. The IFYR dressed up too, as fans were greeted by pink Dodge barrel covers and flags, official pink shirts for rodeo staff provided by Cinch and Cruel Girl and the pickup men “pinked out” with bright pink chaps.
The evening featured a moving rendition of the national anthem by returning vocalist Amanda Coffee-Reynolds and a moment of silence recognizing those who are battling cancer, those who have survived and those who lost the battle to the disease. Coffee-Reynolds herself, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37-years-old in 2013. After a double mastectomy and more than a year of treatments, she went into remission in April 2014.
“You don’t know unless you’ve been through it,” said Coffee-Reynolds. “It’s an emotional roller coaster and a daily struggle to keep a good attitude. Anytime I speak to someone that’s going through treatment, I encourage them to keep a good attitude; it’s such a big part of getting through.”
A country music recording artist from the Shawnee area, Coffee-Reynolds has been singing the national anthem since high school. She was brought on to the IFYR Pink Night program by Suzanne Gilbert, IFYR Hall of Famer and volunteer.
“I played all through my treatments and surgeries,” said Coffee-Reynolds. “Suzanne Gilbert heard me sing at another Expo Center event. When she heard my story, she thought I would be a great fit to sing at Pink Night. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to perform at something that’s so dedicated to helping people in need.”
During the 2017 Pink Night, the first 500 attendees who walked through the Expo Center gates received a free, pink Spur for the Cure T-shirt donated by IFYR sponsors Visit Shawnee, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Benchmark Realty, Rainmaker Sales, Gilbert Insurance Agency, Gilbert & Sons Trucking, Heritage Embroidery and the Griffith Family.
General Pink Night sponsors making additional contributions for the event include Shawnee Office Systems, Tumbleweed Cowboy Church of Shawnee, Shawnee Dental, Jennifer Koonce and Brandon Loeser, Charlie’s Leather Goods, Vision Bank, Shawnee & Titan Security, Lazy D Embroidery, Goober Jones (Jones Arena), Farmers State Bank, Ada Tag Agency, McKey’s Bobcat and Backhoe, Bethel Acres Tag Office, Tuggle Dozer, Roy Sisco, Ed Bush Fresh Filtered Air, Inc., Randy’s Tire and Alignment and Hitchin Post Cowboy Church.
The Shawnee Civic and Cultural Development Authority, governing body of the Expo Center, donated five percent, of Tuesday night’s ticket sales to Shawnee Relay for Life. The donation will be presented during the finals performance on Friday evening, July 14.
“When I walked into the grandstands on Pink Night at the IFYR, the sweeping sea of pink was an inspiring sight to behold,” said Chris Dunlap, assistant director of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center and International Finals Youth Rodeo. “This event unites our community in support of a very important cause and it’s all made possible by our incredible staff, volunteers, sponsors and event attendees.”
Contestants who performed Tuesday night also got in on the action if they wore pink in solidarity with Spur for the Cure. Sponsors offered $200 in bonus cash for each event winner wearing pink during the Tuesday night performance.
The International Finals Youth Rodeo, held annually since 1993, is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that presents top high school athletes with a professional rodeo. The internationally-recognized IFYR is held annually at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The action-packed event includes hundreds of contestants vying to win more than $250,000 in prize money, competing in 10 events running simultaneously in three arenas over six days. In 2016, more than 920 contestants and their families traveled from 34 states to participate in the IFYR. For more information, visit IFYR.com or call (405) 275-7020.
Since 2015, Spur for the Cure Pink Night has raised nearly $10,000 through ticket sales, monetary donations from attendees, IFYR sponsors and vendors. Funds raised are donated to the Shawnee Relay for Life organization, sanctioned by the American Cancer Society.
Pink-clad spectators flooded the grandstands of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in celebration of the third annual Pink Night. The IFYR dressed up too, as fans were greeted by pink Dodge barrel covers and flags, official pink shirts for rodeo staff provided by Cinch and Cruel Girl and the pickup men “pinked out” with bright pink chaps.
The evening featured a moving rendition of the national anthem by returning vocalist Amanda Coffee-Reynolds and a moment of silence recognizing those who are battling cancer, those who have survived and those who lost the battle to the disease. Coffee-Reynolds herself, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37-years-old in 2013. After a double mastectomy and more than a year of treatments, she went into remission in April 2014.
“You don’t know unless you’ve been through it,” said Coffee-Reynolds. “It’s an emotional roller coaster and a daily struggle to keep a good attitude. Anytime I speak to someone that’s going through treatment, I encourage them to keep a good attitude; it’s such a big part of getting through.”
A country music recording artist from the Shawnee area, Coffee-Reynolds has been singing the national anthem since high school. She was brought on to the IFYR Pink Night program by Suzanne Gilbert, IFYR Hall of Famer and volunteer.
“I played all through my treatments and surgeries,” said Coffee-Reynolds. “Suzanne Gilbert heard me sing at another Expo Center event. When she heard my story, she thought I would be a great fit to sing at Pink Night. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to perform at something that’s so dedicated to helping people in need.”
During the 2017 Pink Night, the first 500 attendees who walked through the Expo Center gates received a free, pink Spur for the Cure T-shirt donated by IFYR sponsors Visit Shawnee, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Benchmark Realty, Rainmaker Sales, Gilbert Insurance Agency, Gilbert & Sons Trucking, Heritage Embroidery and the Griffith Family.
General Pink Night sponsors making additional contributions for the event include Shawnee Office Systems, Tumbleweed Cowboy Church of Shawnee, Shawnee Dental, Jennifer Koonce and Brandon Loeser, Charlie’s Leather Goods, Vision Bank, Shawnee & Titan Security, Lazy D Embroidery, Goober Jones (Jones Arena), Farmers State Bank, Ada Tag Agency, McKey’s Bobcat and Backhoe, Bethel Acres Tag Office, Tuggle Dozer, Roy Sisco, Ed Bush Fresh Filtered Air, Inc., Randy’s Tire and Alignment and Hitchin Post Cowboy Church.
The Shawnee Civic and Cultural Development Authority, governing body of the Expo Center, donated five percent, of Tuesday night’s ticket sales to Shawnee Relay for Life. The donation will be presented during the finals performance on Friday evening, July 14.
“When I walked into the grandstands on Pink Night at the IFYR, the sweeping sea of pink was an inspiring sight to behold,” said Chris Dunlap, assistant director of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center and International Finals Youth Rodeo. “This event unites our community in support of a very important cause and it’s all made possible by our incredible staff, volunteers, sponsors and event attendees.”
Contestants who performed Tuesday night also got in on the action if they wore pink in solidarity with Spur for the Cure. Sponsors offered $200 in bonus cash for each event winner wearing pink during the Tuesday night performance.
The International Finals Youth Rodeo, held annually since 1993, is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that presents top high school athletes with a professional rodeo. The internationally-recognized IFYR is held annually at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The action-packed event includes hundreds of contestants vying to win more than $250,000 in prize money, competing in 10 events running simultaneously in three arenas over six days. In 2016, more than 920 contestants and their families traveled from 34 states to participate in the IFYR. For more information, visit IFYR.com or call (405) 275-7020.
