Bid on Ribbon on eBay through April 5
Ocala, FL (March 31, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, is bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon. Weber has donated his signed winning WEG ribbon to a fund raising event that will auction the ribbon on eBay and donate the proceeds to the Humane Society of Marion Country, Florida.
Weber, who recently won the FEI Horse Team division at CAI Live Oak, said it’s not difficult to say goodbye to the ribbon when it benefits a worthwhile charity. “I’m a big supporter of animals and the Humane Society is a wonderful organization,” Weber said. “If the ribbon can help support what they do, then that’s much better than having the ribbon hanging on my wall.”
Weber’s Silver Medal ribbon is currently on eBay and bidding will continue through April 5th. Diane Charipar, of Ocala, Florida, is spearheading the fundraising event and is thrilled that Weber donated the ribbon. “A mutual friend told Chester about this venture and with incredible generosity he offered his signed WEG Four-In-Hand Team driving ribbon,” Charipar said, adding that she has sold thousands of ribbons on eBay and donated the money to the Humane Society.
In 2010, Charipar collected ribbons from competitors at the HITS Ocala show circuit and sold them on eBay. She donated $300 of the money raised to the Ocala school district and took part in a 50/50 drawing being held by the Humane Society of Marion County.
“The Humane Society gets 50% of the ticket sales proceeds and the other 50% goes to the winner of the drawing and I won the big prize by selling horse show ribbons and I immediately gave back the entire $8,575 prize to the Humane Society, turning the ribbons into a $9,075 donation,” Charipar said, adding that she is repeating the fundraising event this year and will take part in the 2011 Humane Society 50/50 drawing on July 15 and will again return the prize money if she would be lucky enough to win the drawing.
“The deadline for the eBay auction for Chester’s ribbon is April 5. Since first of this year I have sold over 1,123 ribbons, and Chester’s ribbon is one of several autographed ribbon auctions I currently have listed on eBay,” Charipar said. “Chester’s ribbon is being auctioned on eBay along with a third place ribbon from U.S. driving champion Larry Poulin.”
Charipar said Weber’s ribbon is attracting a great deal of attention and she hopes that means she will raise even more money for the Humane Society this year. “Chester has signed his Silver Medal USA team ribbon from the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which were held in the United States for the first time since the games were created. Chester’s performance was an integral part of the United States team silver medal winning performance,” she said. “I am overwhelmed with his generosity to donate such a special award to our fund raising efforts. The ribbon is approximately 18″ long. The rosette is 4-1/2″ in diameter and the silver colored medallion in the center is 2-1/4″ in diameter.”
Weber, who is from Ocala and is based out of Live Oak Stud, will defend his USEF National title later this year at the Laurels in Unionville, Pennsylvania. Following that, Weber is preparing for the 2012 World Championships in Riesenbeck and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France.
For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com. To bid on Weber’s Silver Medal ribbon, go to SIGNED HORSE SHOW RIBBONS- C. WEBER DRIVING & L. POULIN – eBay (item 260758478.
For more information contact:
Chester Weber
1-352-895-1139