Saddle up
The Annual New Year’s Trail Ride/BBQ benefit for St. Jude Child-ren’s Research Hospital will be held this year Sunday, Jan. 8, at Prairie Pines Preserve and Endless Trails Ranch.
This is an approximate three-hour guided trail ride on horseback with a $20 minimum donation from each rider, with proceeds going to St. Jude.
Full lunch is served after the ride with entertainment by Pain in the Grass country/bluegrass band from the Cracker Box Restaurant.
This is actually the sixth year for the event, said organizer Lark Campisano of North Fort Myers.
“This will be third year as a fund-raiser for St. Jude’s, but we have held the ride for six years – the first three to make people aware of Prairie Pines itself. When I talk about people, I mean the equine community,” she said.
“St. Jude actually contacted me several years ago. The reason I decided to do it (the fund-raiser) was that my daughter had leukemia when she was 10 years old. She is fine now. We had insurance, but St. Jude treats any child regardless of their insurance status.”
Campisano herself rides at Prairie Pines Preserve at least three times a week.
“From a rider’s point of view, it is like paradise, with the nearly 3,000 acres and 30 miles of trails,” she said.
Prairie Pines is a 2,654-acre Conservation 20/20 project, located at 18400 N. Tamiami Trail.
Of the ride itself, she said, “People come from all over – including Sarasota, Marco Island, Miami and from other areas of the East Coast. Some camp all weekend with their horses. Last year we had 60 riders, and fed over 100 people.”
There will also be prizes to be given away. That includes those from some of the local feed stores who give gift certificates.
“Mary Lou’s and Futral’s Feeds have donated gift certificates among others,” she said. “The patrons of Applebees of North Fort Myers have also taken an interest in the event, and they donated a lot of time and money to the event.”
Trail bosses are Rodney Scruggs and Teggy Smith. “And we have about 10 volunteers this year.”
The lunch is at the ranch.
“All are welcome,” Campisano said.
Non-riders having lunch are asked to make a minimum $5 donation.
Prairie Pines Preserve is located at 18400 N. Tamiami Trail.
Endless Trails Ranch is located at 19201 Matt Road, North Fort Myers.
An RSVP is required for both the ride or lunch. For directions and more details, call 731-3265.