BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR
 |
| Shorty Koger of Shorty's Caboy Hattery is raising money to fund the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Clinic at the OU Cancer Institute, in memory of her sister, Shirley. |
At the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show, amateur exhibitor Tracie Anderson placed an order for a custom hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery. After the New Year, Tracie, who lives in Oklahoma City, stopped into Shorty’s store to pick it up.
“I saw a memorial she had there for her sister and a pink hat,” Tracie said. Shorty’s sister, Shirley Bowman, had lost a battle with cancer.
“Clearly she was raising money,” Tracie continued. “And I asked her, ‘What are you doing with the money you’re raising?’ And she said, ‘I’ve been waiting for somebody to walk through the door and tell me what to do with it.’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m here, write the check.’ I was halfway kidding, but I wasn’t.”
You see, Tracie is also the clinical operations director for the OU Cancer Institute, the University of Oklahoma’s cancer research and treatment center. And they were in need of funding.
As they talked further, Tracie found out that Shorty’s sister had not had health insurance, and Shorty had helped her negotiate the complex process of getting treatment.
“During Shirley’s treatment, Shorty got diagnosed with cancer as well,” Tracie said. “Shirley passed away and Shorty recovered. And Shorty felt passionate about helping patients who didn’t have the means to pay for treatment.”
And that’s where the OU Medical Center comes in.
“We are the only place in the state where an unfunded patient can come and receive care,” Tracie said. “We have a charity program.”
They also have a vision for the future.
“Cancer is not just about the day you get therapy,” said Dr. Robert Mannel, director of the OU Cancer Institute. “We want to offer a patient-centered approach, where we’re not just looking at providing medical therapy, but also patient and family counseling, nutrition services, social services, etc.
“The problem is that this takes a lot of resources, which must have alternative funding, because there’s no traditional funding stream from insurance companies that will cover it.”
With that, Shorty and Tracie set out to raise money to fund the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Clinic at the OU Cancer Institute. Their goal is $250,000 – if they can reach that, there are funds to match it for a $500,000 endowment to provide nutrition services for the institute’s cancer patients.
“Nutrition means that you can get through therapy,” Mannel explained. “Nutrition means that your immune system stays activated; nutrition means that you can fight the cancer with all your internal resources.”
“Saddle Up For The Cure” day on November 17 at the World Show, is just one effort at raising money for the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Clinic. Part of the money raised will also go to the American Quarter Horse Foundation equine research fund.
“It’s a day for women and the horses they love,” Tracie said.
“The reality is about one in three women and about one in two men will develop cancer at some time in their life,” Mannel said. “Nearly half the patients who develop cancer will die of their disease.
“But you connect a passion with an opportunity, and you can do great things,” he continued. “People who are passionate about their horses are people emotionally connected to life. They resonate with people who are sick and people who need help.
“Once the Shirley Bowman Fund is set up, it will be there as long as the University of Oklahoma exists. It will have a lasting impact.”
Here’s how you can help: put money in the special pink donation buckets on the show grounds; buy a pink commemorative bracelet or t-shirt at Quarter Horse Outfitters; buy something in the silent auction at the Shorty’s Caboy Hattery booth in the World Show trade show.
And wear pink to the show on November 17, “Saddle Up For the Cure” day. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit both the OU Cancer Institute and the American Quarter Horse Foundation equine research fund.
“I want to say thank you to AQHA and members for this,” Mannel said. “Being on our side of the table, it’s always a very humbling experience when people who you’ve never met stand up and say we’re with you.”
