Franklin Rodeo Gives Back and Helps Fight Cancer

The Franklin Rodeo is not just an entertainment event for the county, it is giving back to the community. For more than 60 years the Noon Rotary Club has hosted the rodeo to help fund 4H clubs, scholarships and more. “Typically, we like to help children and the elderly first,” says Anne Rainey, club president. “We have things close to our hearts that year after year, it’s a tradition to support.”

This is the clubs only fund raiser and takes all year to organize and plan. The Noon Rotary Club uses the rodeo to help others. “That’s our entire purpose and has been for 63 years,” said Rainey. “We give every single penny back, above and beyond what it takes to produce the rodeo.”

Lynn Rhoades is the executive secretary for the Noon Rotary Club. Days before Christmas in 2011, Lynn had a routine cancer screening and a week later found out she had cancer. The high definition mammography machine at the Breast Health Center at the Williamson Medical Center was able to catch Rhoades’ cancer early, and she did not have to undergo any chemical cancer treatment.

Rhodes is part of the team at the Noon Rotary Club that organizes the Brest Cancer Awareness night “Tough Enough to Wear Pink,” happening on May 19th. This year’s effort will have new meaning for Rhoades. “I only wore pink (on the rodeo’s pink night). I wasn’t a big fan of pink before now.” The center’s navigator, Cary Ralph, gave her great care. Ralph went with Rhoades to as many procedures as she could, called twice a week after surgery, and she and Rhoades went over the facts and informational material together.

The Franklin Rodeo has donated funds from its annual “pink” night since 2006 and has raised more than $47,000 for the fund. The Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign is a nationwide effort by rodeos and other equine events to raise money and support for breast cancer.

Photo By: Submitted