Ride for a Cure set for September 12 at D Bar D Ranch

10th Annual Fundraiser helps patients at Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center.

Trail boss Don Beach

REED CITY & CHASE, Mich., June 8, 2020 – Cancer can be relentless.

But event organizers of the Ride for a Cure event at D Bar D Ranch in Chase are tough and relentless as well.

The ranch staff and volunteers are busy making plans to make the 10^th annual event to assist patients with cancer one to remember.

“We want this to be our biggest and best event yet,” said organizer Denise Clinton. “Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19 and we won’t either.”

Clinton said organizers are gratefully accepting auction items and monetary donations and riders will again be seeking sponsors.

Scheduled for September 12, Ride for a Cure benefits Spectrum Health’s Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center in Reed City. Event cost is $25 per person.

Last year, $25,600 was raised, pushing the total amount raised in nine years to over $200,000. The funds provide needed programming support at the cancer center and services at the facility’s wellness center.

“The support from our ranch family, our volunteers and the community has been incredible,” said trail boss and ranch owner Don Beach. “Cancer affects all of us in one way or another, and it has personally affected us at the ranch. We do this to help other cancer patients, and to thank those at the cancer center who devote their careers to the important work of helping treat patients.”

“We’re so appreciative,” said Marissa Plouff, health and wellness coordinator of the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center. “Ride for a Cure has grown into such an amazing event, and we join the ranch staff in inviting everyone to enjoy the fun and contribute to this great cause.”

Trail rides, wagon rides, camping, great food, a silent auction and live music again highlight the event

Multiple horseback trail rides and horse-drawn wagon rides will occur on Saturday, September 12. A four-hour trail ride begins at 1 p.m., with a two-hour ride starting at 2 p.m. Multiple wagon rides also leave at 2 p.m. for those without a horse.

“We’ll also have games and prizes and our popular pig roast Saturday night,” Beach said.

Many participants camp at the ranch and enjoy a full weekend of activities, including a fun speed show and DJ Friday evening and live music Saturday evening with Stolen Horses Band. A silent auction tent will operate throughout the weekend. The event concludes with a pancake breakfast from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Camp sites are still available for the weekend.

Organizers will make necessary social distancing decisions due to COVID-19 closer to the event date.

Businesses and individuals willing to donate a silent auction item can call the ranch at 231.832.3143 or drop off the item on site at 6746 East 64^th Street in Chase.

Pledge sheets to sponsor riders, or for riders to collect support are available online at www.dbardranchmichigan.com.

Spectrum Health System, a not-for-profit, integrated health system, is committed to improving the health and wellness of our communities. We live our mission every day with 31,000 compassionate professionals, 4,600 medical staff experts, 3,300 committed volunteers and a health plan serving 1 million members. Our talented physicians and caregivers are privileged to offer a full continuum of care and wellness services to our communities through 14 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 150 ambulatory sites and telehealth offerings. We pursue health care solutions for today and tomorrow that diversify our offerings. Locally-governed and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our health system provided $585 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2019. Thanks to the generosity of our communities, we received $30 million in philanthropy in the most recent fiscal year to support research, academics, innovation and clinical care. Spectrum Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics®, part of IBM Watson Health^TM.

Contact:
John Norton
Corporate Communications Manager
Office: 231.592.4387
Mobile: 231.580.1079
Email: john.norton@corewellhealth.org