Charity trail ride raises more than $7,500

Charity trail ride raises more than $7,500
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Participants in the first ever “Ride for the Walk” charity trail ride raised more than $7,500 for breast cancer research.

The trail ride at Granite Mountain on Oct. 21 was a living tribute to Robin Hilditch who died of cancer on April 6. Proceeds from the ride will benefit the upcoming 3-Day 60-mile walk for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Arizona Team Corazon will be walking those miles Nov. 3-5.

“This started as a tribute to my friend Robin and then everyone came to me with stories about their loved ones who have battled cancer,” said Cortland Parks, the ride’s organizer.



“My good friend Holly Restifo was already planning to participate in the 3-Day Walk in support of her sister Kathy who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. That’s when we decided to work together and donate the funds from the Ride to her team pledges.”

Team Corazon, which includes Holly Restifo, Vincent Cibrian, Martha Ochoa and Liz Smithhart as walkers and crew, came out to volunteer as check-in crew and lunch servers for the charity ride.

“When I started out doing the 3-Day, I wanted to make a difference in somebody’s life–anybody’s, it didn't matter, as long as I was helping,” said Restifo. “Well, I’ve just recently learned that one of my sisters has breast cancer. I’m not shocked, knowing the facts that I know. But I’m still saddened. I pray that she will make it through this, and with the strength of our family and the prayers of all our friends, I know she will.”

More than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and more than 40,000 American women and men will die of the disease, according to the Susan G. Komen Web site.

Everything for the charity ride was donated. Cave Creek Outfitters provided use of their ranch, Famous Dave’s BBQ provided the food, and numerous other contributors donated dozens of items for the event’s silent auction.

“The only thing we had to buy were the T-shirts,” Parks said. “So all we collected went to the cause.”

Miss Rodeo Arizona 2006 Elizabeth Scott participated in the ride and spoke to the crowds at the luncheon. She told them of her reign as Miss Rodeo Arizona and her journey to the Miss Rodeo America pageant in November.

Cowgirl Historical Foundation members, wearing pink, bejeweled Western shirts, also rode in the event.


Members of the Scottsdale Jaycees Comancheros and about a dozen cowboys and cowgirls from Mounted Shooters of America lent their support.

The upcoming Breast Cancer 3-Day event is for those who want to join the fight against the disease through fundraising, training, and dedicating an entire weekend to the cause. Participants walk an average of 20 miles per day, starting Nov. 3 at Freestone Park in Gilbert and finish up at Hance Park in Phoenix.

Organizers expect the event will raise millions of dollars which, in addition to medical research, also pays for community outreach programs.

Those who wish to make a pledge through Team Corazon can do so by visiting: www.the3day.org. Click on the donate link and enter Holly Restifo’s name.