Monday, 8 September 2008

Former ambassador, lawmaker help raise $60,000 for musical

Stephen Spillman / Amarillo Globe-News
Danielle Fehr and Glenn Campbell of the Randall County Sheriff's Posse take part in the Rider on the Rim Trail Ride in Palo Duro Canyon on Saturday . More than 50 riders showed up for the fundraiser.

By Janelle Stecklein
janelle.stecklein@amarillo.com
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Amarillo.com

A former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a state representative and a Scot were among 75 participants in the first Rider on the Rim Trail Ride fundraiser.

"That's a good turnout, and it's a beautiful day," said Bill Anderson, executive director of the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, which sponsored the event.

The eight-mile ride through Palo Duro Canyon started at Pioneer Amphitheatre, the home of the musical "Texas," and raised more than $60,000 to help fund the musical.

Former Ambassador Sichan Siv joined state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, David Tidmarsh of Scotland and dozens of others along Palo Duro's scenic trails on horseback.

Siv, author of "Golden Bones - From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to a new Life in America," contributed signed copies of the book for an auction at the event. He is scheduled to speak at West Texas A&M University and the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club this week.

"Many of our facilities were in need of repair," said Doris Alexander, co-chairwoman of the event and chairwoman of the Heritage Foundation board.

"This fundraiser has raised more than any other fundraiser in the history of the stage play 'Texas.' "

Most of the riders paid $1,000 each to be the first to experience a new trail created for the event. The auction featured a variety of items, including paintings, jewelry and a truck.

For those who decided not to go on the four-hour ride, volunteers stayed behind to offer old-fashioned wagon rides.

Cole Cleveland of Claude lounged on a surrey as he waited to give free rides.

"It's a fun deal," he said. "It's like stepping back 150 years every once in a while."

Eddie Longhofer of Canadian spent his afternoon volunteering and driving an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon for people who couldn't ride.

His wife, Judy, rode in the back.

"I think it's neat," she said of the event. "I think it's really nice that they did this."

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