A wide array of live and silent auction items–from riding equipment to artwork to race rides by leading jockeys–have been donated to the Paul Rowland Fund for a July 9 benefit, and still more donations are being sought for the event.
The auctions will be part of an activity-filled evening to benefit Paul Rowland and his children as the trainer battles malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the chest cavity. The fund-raiser will be held from 6-11 p.m. at the Edward L. Walls Activity Center at the Fair Hill Nature Center in Fair Hill, Md.
“I am truly gratified by the outpouring of concern for Paul and by the generous donations from so many within the American steeplechase community,” said owner-trainer Michele C. Sanger, who is helping to organize the event. “But we need to provide as many auction items as possible. Paul’s treatment will be both extensive and expensive, and the July 9 event will be a tangible way for the steeplechase community to show its support for him and his children.”
Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Children will be admitted at no charge for the family-friendly gathering, which also will feature great food, live entertainment, and a children’s corral in addition to the silent and live auctions. Among the live-auction items will be a laptop computer and race rides by champion jockey Paddy Young and Darren Nagle. Other auction offerings are water-skiing and fox-hunting outings.
Tax-deductible donations can be made through the Steeplechase Fund, which supports injured or disabled members of the steeplechase community. For tickets and other information, contact Sanger at michesanger@gmail.com or (406) 360-2252.