Barrel racing raises $6000 for Crohn's and Colitis Canada

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Published on Thursday, July 9, 2015

Submitted photo. The 2nd annual It Takes Guts Charity Barrel Race 1D Champion Michelle Davey (right) from Brandon. Erin Cathcart (left) presented Davey with her prize.

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

Decked out in purple, for the second year in a row, the rodeo community stepped up in support of Crohn’s and colitis. On June 21, the It Takes Guts charity barrel race returned to Neepawa and raised a total of $6,247 for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Organizer Erin Cathcart, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in September 2012, said that she and her family were very happy with the money they were able to raise during the course of the afternoon event. In total, over 100 barrel racers came to take part in the event. Though mostly from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the event also drew competitors from Ontario to the Beautiful Plains Ag Society grounds. Cathcart added that her cousins from B.C. also flew in to support the event.

The money raised came from donations, profit from the concession, a raffle table, a 50/50 draw and half of the entries fees paid by the racers. “We’ve very thankful,” said Cathcart, adding that she is very appreciative of the town, the racers, the rodeo community and her family for the support shown towards the event.

While the event was successful in raising money, Cathcart said that it was also successful in her other goal, raising awareness about Crohn’s and colitis. Cathcart said that she is outspoken about the disease and trying to raise awareness, noting that she didn’t know anything about it before she was diagnosed. “It can happen to anyone,” she said. Most of the participants wore purple, the colour of Crohn’s and colitis awareness, and Cathcart said that people left the event with a basic knowledge about the diseases.  

With the success of the past two years’ events, Cathcart said that plans are already underway to host It Takes Guts again in 2016.