‘Eventing for the Cure’ Raises $5K at Hunt Club Farms’ Annual Charity Event

Allison Snowden and Read the Will, winners of the Training Division. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

October is a special month at Hunt Club Farms. For the past seven years, the Berryville, Virginia venue has hosted “Eventing for the Cure,” a charity event to raise money for local families battling cancer. Eventing for the Cure is a rider favorite every year. This year did not disappoint — competitors and spectators were ‘pinked out’ and having a blast. The morning began with the Modified/Training division and wound up with the Introductory division. It was a fabulous turnout, and the weather, although a bit damp, kept the horses fresh.

Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

It is not often that riders get to jump around a demanding stadium jumping course with a pink tutu or run cross country on a gray horse turned pink for the day. The atmosphere was lively and exciting as the riders and spectators donned their most fabulous pink attire for the event. Every shade and variety of pink was well represented, from wigs to wraps, nearly everyone was pretty in pink! “It’s really a competition to see who can have the most fun with the most pink!,” says Falishia Guarno-Philips, smiling as she walks by in her pink tutu.

Gillian Sims riding Copper Cruise. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

Seven years ago Hunt Club Farm owner Tracy Zack’s sister, Tammy Scovitch, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was in for a long hard fight. “The whole process was exhausting. I could not get over how much was not covered by insurance, and how hard it was on my sister’s family while she was going through the treatments,” Tracy remembers. “Not only was she physically and emotionally wiped out, she was so worried about finances.”

It was October and Hunt Club was gearing up for the fall unrecognized combined test. “I was on my way home from visiting my sister, after she had lost her hair, and was too sick to work. I kept thinking, what can I do? And it just struck me, Eventing for the Cure! We can raise money to help with bills.”

Dawn Beach and Master Magician, Winners of the Modified Training division. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

That first year, Tracy gave all of the proceeds from the show to her sister to help pay bills while she was off of work. Tammy’s survival story is awesome and inspiring. She attributes that to the support that was lavished on her by friends, family and community. “When you have cancer the last thing you need is financial stress!”

Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

After a successful first year, Zack made Eventing for the Cure an annual event. “I saw that we could help others, we could make an impact in our community,” says Zack.

Eventing for the Cure has given to several different organizations over the years; however, the Angel Fund at Shenandoah Oncology came to Tracy’s attention in 2018 and captured the heart of the event. The Angels Fund is unique in that it does not support cancer research, search for a cure or lower medical expenses. The Angel Fund is available for people fighting cancer to help them stay afloat financially. The fund will pay a mortgage or make a car payment, they can keep the lights on, or the water running. The Angel Fund is help, in a time of need. This year $5,000 was raised to support this unique local charity.

Tracy Zack with Sarah Sims presenting $5,000 to the Angel Fund of Shenandoah Oncology. Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

“Making this work as a charity event takes a team!” Tracy says. “We are blessed with a great team, from our sponsors — Purina, HC Sommers Feed and Supply and Piedmont Equine — to our dressage judge who donated her time, to our incredible volunteers who were out in the weather, to our competitors and auction patrons who supported the event. Every single one of them made a difference. This event is what it is thanks to them.”

When asked about the future of Eventing for the Cure, Zack responds, “It just keeps growing! I see a spectator section and think we can really expand the auction next year. We have great sponsors and would like to increase our reach and give even more to the Angel Fund. It would be great to have people from outside the horse world get involved as well.”

Samantha Pigott and Tracy Zack showing off this year’s shirt. Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

Hunt Club Farms has donated over $55,000 since the inception of Eventing for the Cure.

To learn more or to get involved visit www.huntclubfarms.net.