A sold-out event of 200 guests at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino in Cloverdale helped trot to success a fundraiser for the annual Nite of Hope event last week.
Held Feb. 24, Harness the Hope raised more than $12,600 for breast cancer research.
Helping contribute to the total was a silent auction with more than 60 items, 50/50 ticket sales, door prizes, a blackjack tournament, a spin and win, and some harness racing action on the track courtesy of a Powder Puff Race.
Decked out in pink, the horses and their all-female drivers got the crowd up on their feet cheering them on to the finish line.
Once the race had finished, the winner was presented with a specially embroidered horse blanket bearing the Harness the Hope logo. Doing the presentation honours was a breast cancer survivor.
In all, it was a very moving day, said Brock Lazaruk, marketing manager at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino.
"We try to do a lot of community-based events," Lazaruk said, adding the tie-in with the fundraiser is the fact his mother Sherri, a committee member with the Nite of Hope, lost a good friend to cancer.
Plus, the White Rock and South Surrey branch of the Nite of Hope had put their annual event on hold for a year.
"And we wanted to continue our event and still raise money for a good cause, so that's what connected us with the Richmond group," Lazaruk said, adding the participation by all those involved in the Harness the Hope is what has proved to be exceptional.
An example of that is the Powder Puff Race, involving the female drivers who usually work as trainers and groomers. They get to show their talents on the track and also collect pledges in their own "race for the cure."
"They raised a few hundred dollars which was amazing and went to the grand total," Lazaruk said.
"The Cloverdale community really jumps on board. It's a single idea that has sprouted and become a really well known and popular event that people look forward to each year."
