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Show Vernal Express Wednesday, June 4, 2008 A9 Fundraisers travel backcountry across America By Mary Bernard Express Writer Tell anyone in the Basin about a cross-country horseback ride and they will undoubtedly tell stories about pushing steers in the high country. Hard work, but nothing like the cross-country commitment of American Fundraisers. This organization's crosscountry cross-country trek will ride over 11 states and 1,800 miles goingfrom Idaho to Virginia in six months. The Vernal Express caught up with Phil Dawson, along with wife Patty and friend Dennis , Copenbarger of American Fund-, Fund-, raisers at Western Park. They are making this ride to raise money and awareness for children who suffer long-term illness and whose families lack adequate funds for treatment. They paused their hard ride to take a day off in Vernal to do some much needed trailer repairs. "Not all of America's children are lucky enough to experience even the smallest of joys," Phil explained. "What we do is raise money for children whose medical medi-cal care has drained their families fami-lies finances. We do just about anything like rodeos or fairs, but mostly we are sponsored for our ride and the funds go to charity." . American Fundraiser's Web site is also a place "for the children chil-dren to explore the world on a larger scale than just the hospital room in which so many of them are forced to spend the biggest percent of their time. " Children can view the trek from pictures that Dawson uploads up-loads to the site. They can also communicate with the trio online after each day 's ride. A web-wave created by friends and family has carried their message of greeting across the country. American Fundraiser is the brainchild of Dawson, who was moved personally by the plight of ailing children and their families. fami-lies. "I was kind of cast into the project by seeing how a family's finances can be sapped by a medical crisis," said Dawson. "I wanted to do something to help. I grew up around horses, training them for 40 years. And I thought well, I could put these things together." Dawson went to local businesses busi-nesses in Boise and Hagerman, Idaho, looking for sponsors for this first fundraiser. From small beginnings they created the Ride America 2008 Project to help others appreciate the things that most of us take for granted. Supporters pledge money for miles covered by the horsed rider rid-er s (a little as a penny per mile) or buy items to be used by the riding crew. Two riders will eventually cover the entire distance. Donations have come from horse clubs, television stations, veterinary clinics and a variety of other resources. Included is the American Appaloosa Horse Club, providing a full-page ad of their fundraising each month.. The Appaloosa horse is the Idaho state horse. "We ride two Appaloosa stallions stal-lions that I raised and trained," Dawson said proudly. "Apache Double Twin known as Billy, which is a leopard-coated horse. And a four-year-old stud named Apache Gold Jet that we call Jet." During the day Phil or Patty ride a trail determined the day before by Dennis. Their path largely avoids traffic and urban areas usually cutting across the open country. Copenbarger, who sets the trail for the riders also contacts local groups for interest in the group's presentation. "We ride anywhere from 5 to 6 hours a day," Dawson explained. "One horse, every other day." Long days in the saddle are nothing new to Dawson who spent 17 years riding endurance horses. He's been a shoer and a horse trainer, studying horses and riders since childhood. More than just a horse hand, Dawson studied business receiving re-ceiving a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in business education and agriculture agri-culture management. Putting all these things together, to-gether, he and Patty saw fund-raising fund-raising as a natural progression for their talents. They leveraged their energies and philosophy in Ride America. Dawson's doctrine is' an amalgam of famous horse trainers. train-ers. He has painted his 10-point philosophy on the side of his horse trailer. Feel, Timing and Balance, points 1 to 3, Dawson credits to Ray Hunt's approach to riding. Next are Mind, Body and Spirit, which he says belong to Tom Dorrance. The last points of Love, Respect, Trust and Leadership represent his own perspective. Dawson teaches his philosophy to 4-H groups and horse clubs at his scheduled stops. "I'm at an age now where I just want to give it back," Dawson said. "We'll end this project in Pocahontas State Park, just south of Richmond, Va., in October. And, we already have another project on the planning board for next year's fundraiser." ii 4) , J -V " ,- t i ! : I ' -t T 1 . '' "ffifc f iff J- Y - 1 - i ; i 7 - Phil on Jet just after they began their journey. Jet is the second of two stallions that Dawson, his wife Patty and partner Dennis are riding across the U.S. -(fi?F?H ulffi) li? JUNE 7th 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. 4 . V r- - f --'' ,"" r 7.L07S "11 I ..MBIT 9.IRCST r- vM : io WITH LEADERSHIP 'I 1 V. ! ! Uni iel -"r 275 W 100 S 3 bedroom, 1 bath home w hardwood floors. Has remodeled kitchen and updated water heater and furnace. Central air. Is plumbed for 2nd bathroom downstairs. Large lot, vinyl fencing w fenced in backyard. 2 car garage, and Tf .... T house ln 451 W200S3A 2 bedroom, 1 12 bath, laminate flooring in kitchen. New carpet, rarige, and dishwasher. All yardwork and La ge lox. viny, rencing w rencea in oaayaro z car garage ana maintenar care of. free drawing! ome arrf en'c')' re rr 's arv a arawin9! MLS 789451 $199,900 MLS 795634 Karen Laub 828-0204 if Each office Is independently owned and opwl. 1820 West V-r.il Hwy.40,SteF 25-7il-2:x Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results mirniirtni rririr-rT-il Jan Sharp 828-4000 v.' 8s lJ PAINT & GLASS The America Fundraisers trailer with Dawson's philosophy painted on the side. t Momine Coffee, WW m VERNAL Express Subscribe today! Call 789-351 1 Uintah School District will be sponsoring the Summer Lunch Program again this year. All children, age 18 and younger eat FREE. Adults may purchase lunch for $2.75. Meals will be served Monday through Thursday at Ashley Valley Education Center, Maeser Elementary and Davis Elementary locations. Meals will be served Monday through Wednesday at Lapoint Elementary. Meals will be served Tuesday through Thursday at Todd Elementary. AshleyVEC June 02 -July 23, 2008 11:30 to 12:30 Davis Elementary June 02 -July 17, 2008 12:30 to 1:00 Maeser Elementary June 02 -July 11, 2008 11:30 to 12:30 Todd Elementary June 10 - June 25, 2008 12:30 to 1:00 July 08 -July 31, 2008 12:30 to 1:00 Lapoint Elementary June 09 - June 25, 2008 1 1:30 to 12:00 July 07 -July 17, 2008 11:30 to 12:00 For more information call Sherry Hardman or Miko Batty at 781-3 1 85 Institute 4 The Journey 2 Effective Leadership Upward Bound students and other interested youth groups are invited June 11-12 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Utah State University Roosevelt Registration is free for current Upward Bound students. All others pay $30.00 fee; lunch is included. The focus of the training is on building life skills, teaching the value of commitments and goal setting, teaching the importance of education to enrich our youth's lives and futures, building self-worth, and helping them develop good leadership skills. 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