WELCOME RODEO NEWS FANS

Cowboys wear pink for breast cancer awareness
Every rosy shirt or tie meant a donation from the Royal to the local Susan G. Komen chapter.
By JOYCE TSAI
The Kansas City Star

On Friday at the American Royal Pro Rodeo, Brad Rudolf was getting dressed for the saddle bronc competition — lacing leather chaps, buckling his belt, tucking in his pink shirt.

He was decked out in pink for the rodeo’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” challenge, which encouraged contestants and audience members to wear pink in the name of breast cancer awareness.

For each audience member donning pink, the American Royal donated $1. For each rodeo contestant, a $10 donation was made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Kansas City.

This was the event’s first year at the Royal.

Was the pink shirt one that Rudolf, from Winterset, Iowa, had in his closet?

“No, it’s probably not one that most cowboys just have in their closet,” he said. Actually, he bought his for the occasion. He wore it to show his support.

“That’s what cowboys are all about,” he said.

Besides, it does have other advantages. “The ladies take notice,” he said, with a wink.

Some audience members and rodeo competitors displayed just a whisper of pink among their traditional denim and leather cowboy duds. But others drenched themselves in pink, with a bright or pale pink shirt.

Just by wearing pink for one night, people were “donating a dollar that could save someone’s life — right here in Kansas City,” said Lori Maris, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Kansas City.

Rodeo competitor Andy Carter said the color was no big deal. “If wearing a pink shirt makes people more aware of breast cancer, it’s the least I can do,” said Carter, from Ellsinore, Mo.

Bo Casper said it was a way to pay respect.

“Pink ain’t a color I’d, say, wear on a ranch,” said Casper, from Fort Scott, Kan.. But “everybody’s got moms and sisters and everything. You do it out of respect.”

If some of the rodeo contestants didn’t wear pink that night, they said, it was because they weren’t aware of the event.

Tom Frank from Ottawa, Kan., a self-described cowboy, was also wearing a pink shirt.

“It was just in my closet, and I picked it up,” he said. “I had no idea this was going on, but it’s a good cause.”

“I’d say he’s tough enough to wear pink,” his wife, Julie, chimed in.

Read more at the Kansas City