Wellington, FL – December 12, 2011 – The Eleventh Annual Challenge of the Americas competition and gala will be taking a recess for 2012. Although the event is taking the year off, it will return in 2013 bigger and better than ever. The recent death of Evelyn H. Lauder, founder of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), gave way to a new outlet to continue to raise funds for the Foundation. Challenge of the Americas Chairman Mary Ross and business partner Timmie Pollock will actively donate two dollars from each advertisement purchased on their equestrian marketplace Web site, MatchnRide.com, to Play for P.I.N.K, a grassroots fundraising organization which uses lifestyle and sporting events to raise funds for BCRF.
Lauder became an ardent advocate for breast cancer awareness in 1989 when she was personally diagnosed. She became the creator of the Pink Ribbon campaign, a worldwide symbol of breast health, and in 1993, she founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Since its establishment, BCRF has raised more than $350 million to support clinical and translational research at medical institutions worldwide. Lauder actively participated and partnered with Ross to organize Challenge of the Americas with all proceeds from the event benefiting BCRF. Lauder unfortunately passed away from non-genetic ovarian cancer at the age of 75, and the Challenge of the Americas expresses their sympathy and promises to carry on her work.
Lauder’s work continues in the fundraising Ross has set in motion through Play for P.I.N.K. (Prevention, Immediate Diagnosis, New Technology, Knowledge). One hundred percent of the organization’s fundraising is donated to BCRF. Since 1996, Play for P.I.N.K. has raised $25.75 million for breast cancer research – one creative event at a time – with $3.75 million raised in 2011 alone.
“Even though Challenge of the Americas is taking a break this year to regroup and brainstorm, I didn’t want to lose out on the opportunity to continue to raise funds,” Ross said. “The Challenge of the Americas has benefitted The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Play for P.I.N.K for ten years; I’m proud to continue the tradition through our Web site.”
MatchnRide.com is a newly designed innovative Web site designed to take the guesswork out of buying, selling and leasing horses. This impressive virtual equestrian marketplace unites and accommodates through a fully automated database of classified advertisements. The Web site provides easy to use search tools, as well as protected communication channels to assist both the buyer and seller. Their goal is to provide a time-saving, efficient method for helping horse owners, trainers, and breeders market their horses to the widest group of interested buyers. In addition, their design provides a Web site for potential buyers and lessees to find their ideal horse by using a method that continues to provide search results even while the searcher is offline.
Challenge of the Americas looks forward to the upcoming season when the committee will brainstorm new ideas for the 2013 event. For more information on Play for P.I.N.K, visit playforpink.org. Please visit MatchnRide.com to purchase an advertisement to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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