The Lynden PRCA Rodeo, presented by the Northwest Washington Fair, recently donated $42,000 to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center in Bellingham for cancer patient care and research.

The contribution is the second-highest total ever raised through 10 years of the rodeo’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. Contestants, volunteers, and spectators in the Lynden PRCA Rodeo, conducted Aug. 15-16 during the Northwest Washington Fair, wore pink shirts during the competition to raise awareness of breast cancer while local rodeo volunteers conducted fundraisers for the Cancer Center.

“We were blessed with hard-working committee members and generous sponsor contributions and aided by administrative support from the Northwest Washington Fair/Lynden PRCA Rodeo,” said Karen Timmer, chair of this year’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink committee. “I want to give special recognition to my co-chair, Tresie Wiersma, and our top sponsors: Janele Haan and Banner Bank, Mount Baker Rotary Club and Samson Estates Winery.”

Other members of the committee were: Eric Collins, Brenda Elenbaas, Bob Fraser, Cheryl Fraser, Darrel Timmer, Audie Hendricks, Jim Vander Giessen, Karen Vander Giessen, Janelle Mauer, Linda Tjoelker, Rhonda Van Mersbergen and Tom Lagreid

The Cancer Center uses 100 percent of donations for patient support services and research.

Since its inception in 2004, Tough Enough to Wear Pink has empowered rodeos and western events in North America to focus attention on the need for a cure.  The campaign has raised more than $25 million for breast cancer research and patient care.