LAS CRUCES – The Cowboys for Cancer Research (C4CR) will have its annual dinner and dance to raise money for cancer research on Friday, Oct. 4 at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
C4CR is a nonprofit organization that raises money through donations and activities such as roping events and golf tournaments.
Denny Calhoun, co-executive director of C4CR, said the organization started in 1982 after a close friend, Alma Cohorn, died of cancer.
“A group of family friends and associates of Alma started a roping team to help raise money to fight the disease that took the life of a friend,” Calhoun said. “A man named Rawley Jackson who worked for telephone company, enlisted fellow employees and retirees to help him put on a roping team. We were never quite sure how munch money was raised that first year, I’d say about $700 to $800.”
C4CR has since raised about $2.5 million, which went toward creating endowments to fund cancer research at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center and New Mexico State University. C4CR is also the largest cancer fundraiser in the state in which all the money stays in New Mexico and goes to research.
Calhoun said doors open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour and silent auction. The C4CR program will begin at 8 p.m. and the dance will begin at 9 p.m. until midnight, with live music by the Elk Band. At 8:45 p.m., doors will be open for the general public with admission for the dance only. Tickets for the dance will be $10.
“A new thing that we started last year that we’re doing again this year is we’re opening the doors at 9 p.m. for the general public. They can only pay $10 for the dance only which is a great opportunity for the college kids since it’s homecoming weekend,” Calhoun said. “This was really popular last year because a lot of people don’t want to spend money for a ticket to get in for dinner. This will give people a chance to attend.”
Regular tickets will be $100 each for open seating and $1,200 for a reserved table of 10. Children 12 and under are free. Open seat tickets will be available Horse N Hound Feed N Supply, 991 W Amador Ave.
To donate to C4CR visit https://www.c4cr.com/ or mail a check to Cowboys for Cancer Research, P.O. Box 202, Doña Ana, New Mexico, 88032.
Jacqueline Devine can be reached at 575-541-5476, [email protected] or @JackieIsDevine on Twitter.
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour and silent auction. The C4CR program will begin at 8 p.m. and the dance will begin at 9 p.m. until midnight. At 8:45 p.m., doors will be open for the general public with admission for the dance only.
Date: Friday, Oct. 4
Place: Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E University Ave
Cost: Tickets for the dance will be $10. Regular tickets will be $100 each for open seating and $1,200 for a reserved table of 10. Children 12 and under are free. Open seat tickets will be available Horse N Hound Feed N Supply, 991 W Amador Ave.
Info: Call Calhoun at 575-642-5693 or visit https://www.c4cr.com/