Group cowgirl's up for awareness

The third annual Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer (CKC) omoksee event took place in Noxon, sponsored by Sanders County Rocky Ridge Saddle Club. The goal of the event was to educate the community and get the message across that “early detection is your greatest protection.” All family-oriented vendors were welcome to set up at the event for the small fee of donating one door prize for the games or raffle.

All the money raised by CKC is donated locally. In 2017 they were able to donate $6,000 to Cancer Network of Sanders County and $1,000 to the Clark Fork Valley Hospital. With those donations, the overall total since 2011 climbed to $43,000.

The cowgirls who donate their time to the organization have been affected by cancer in some way, either personally or have a friend or family member that has been diagnosed. Leanne Smith, who helped run the event, is a cancer survivor that was diagnosed in her thirties. Smith thinks that these events are a great way to get people involved in fun activities and give back to the community, while at the same time educating to possibly save lives.

Cancer affects so many in the Sanders County community and CKC is doing their best to make a difference. The donations that they receive provide money for free mammograms at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital as well as assisting local families through cancer treatments. You will be able to support CKC at the Huckleberry Festival in August and then their main event is the family style rodeo clinic on the Plains fairgrounds with games for all ages, Saturday, September 1.