Haven House hosted its 34th annual trail ride fundraiser Saturday. The event raised almost $19,000 in support of the domestic violence shelter.
Organizer Amber Tinker says the trail ride was originally formed many years ago by what she called the Cardiac Cowboys.
She said it was a group dedicated to trail riding but had also discovered they were all survivors.
“The history of the trail ride is pretty fascinating,” Tinker said. “There were a few cowboys that got together and they called themselves the Cardiac Cowboys. The Cardiac Cowboys is what they called themselves because it was kind of this club where they all loved horses and they had all suffered heart attacks.”
The way the trail ride works is that the riders serve as fundraisers for the nonprofit.
“Our riders go to their families, friends and local businesses and they collect sponsorships for the trail ride,” Tinker said. “This year, our first-place winner was Carolyn Cravens and she raised $5,475.”
In second place was Stacey Allen with $2,520 and third place was Delyla Barnum with $2,040.
Tinker also mentioned there was a silent auction during the event and door prizes for every individual rider. She said this is the nonprofit’s only annual fundraiser for the year.
“We have barbecue meals donated by Jerry Hillis, which is great. The farm and the property belong to Larry and Robyn Hillis,” Tinker said. “And they all have been extremely generous to us.”
The trail ride takes approximately an hour and a half to nearly two hours and riders venture out into the Mark Twain National Forest.
The mood of the fundraiser is very relaxed, resembling more of a family reunion type of event, with Curtis Robinson and his bandmates entertaining the crowd with country classics.
The trail ride was started about four years after Haven House was established in Poplar Bluff, and many of its members are longtime participants.
“(Haven House) is a shelter and advocacy service for victims of domestic and sexual violence as well as their children,” Tinker said during the event.
According to their website, Haven House has 31 beds available for adults and children who are seeking shelter or are forced from their homes due to violence. The nonprofit also provides resources and advocates to discuss the dynamics of sexual or domestic violence.
Long-time trail rider and the first-place winner of this year’s trail ride Carolyn Cravens said she has been a part of the trail ride since she had horses.
“I have been doing this ever since I have had horses,” she said. “When I got my horse I said, ‘If I ever get a horse, I am going to ride,’ you know for this charity, because I believe in this charity.”