How hundreds of volunteers and regional rodeos made it possible

NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Wrangler® Tough Enough To Wear Pink™ (TETWP), the grassroots cowboy campaign fighting breast cancer since 2004, celebrated its eighth anniversary this year by surpassing  the $14.5 million mark in funds raised since its inception.  Hundreds of volunteers and regional rodeos across the U.S. and Canada made this achievement possible.  The top 2012 fundraising rodeo events included Cattleman’s Day in Gunnison, Colo, Missoula Stampede, Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo, Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo, Red Bluff Round-Up and the bell ringer event, Cowboys for Cancer, Las Cruces, NM.

“We were thrilled to announce we surpassed the $14.5 million mark at the Wrangler National Final Rodeo in Las Vegas on Wrangler Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night,” explains Terry Wheatley, who founded the campaign alongside former Wrangler Director of Special Events and current Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Commissioner, Karl Stressman. “All money raised benefits local breast cancer charities and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research projects internationally.”

Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink was created eight years ago when Wheatley and Stressman issued a challenge to the cowboys:  Are You Tough Enough To Wear Pink? During one night of the 10-night Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the competitors were dared to wear the color pink to bring attention to the need for early detection and a cure for breast cancer, a disease which affects many families in the western community.  Cowboys and cowgirls created a sensation when they galloped into the championship arena ablaze in pink.  Inspired rodeo fans soon began asking how they could put on Wrangler TETWP events at their own hometown rodeos, and the grassroots fundraising took off one rodeo at a time. Wrangler Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night has become an annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tradition, which took place this year Monday, Dec. 10.

Wheatley, a California entrepreneur who owns and operates Canopy Management, a Napa Valley wine company creating, marketing and selling wine under the Wine Sisterhood™ banner, is a rodeo wife, mom and breast cancer survivor.  One of Wine Sisterhood’s wines, Purple Cowboy, is the official wine of Wrangler TETWP.  Purple Cowboy is also the official wine of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Purple Cowboy wines include Tenacious Red, a Cabernet/Merlot blend, Trail Boss Cabernet and Night Rider Merlot, all from the cowboy wine country appellation of Paso Robles.

TETWP continues to be spearheaded by Wheatley, while the Wrangler brand remains the program’s title sponsor, selling the official pink apparel. Lacey and Katie Wheatley coordinate with rodeos and other non-rodeo organizations to create the pink-themed fundraisers across the country throughout the year.

Visit www.toughenoughtowearpink.com to learn more. 

About Wrangler® Tough Enough To Wear Pink™ (TETWP™): Wrangler®TETWP™ was created by entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor Terry Wheatley to bring the sport of professional rodeo and the western community together to rally against breast cancer.  Since its inception in 2004, TETWP has empowered rodeos in the U.S. and Canada to focus attention on the need for a cure.  To date, the campaign has raised $14.5 million for breast cancer charities, most of which stays right in the community. The grassroots movement has inspired other sports communities to mount their own Wrangler TETWP campaigns, spreading a message of hope and support that reaches beyond the rodeo arena to competitors, families and fans across America. For more information on how to help, visit www.toughenoughtowearpink.com.

About Wrangler®: Wrangler® is proud to be the title sponsor of the Wrangler TETWP™campaign. Wrangler Western Wear is available at more than 2,500 western specialty, mid-tier and workwear stores nationwide that provide quality men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. For more information regarding the Wrangler family of products or to locate the Wrangler retailer nearest you, visit www.wrangler.com or call 1.888.784.8571.   

VF Corporation is a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel with more than 30 brands, including Wrangler®, The North Face®, Lee®, Vans®, Nautica®, 7 For All Mankind®, Eagle Creek®, Eastpak®, Ella Moss®, JanSport®, lucy®, John Varvatos®, Kipling®, Majestic®, Napapijri®, Red Kap®, Reef®, Riders® and Splendid®.

VF Corporation’s press releases, annual report and other information can be accessed through the Company’s home page, www.vfc.com.

About Wine Sisterhood™: Wine Sisterhood is a wine brand creation, sales and marketing company connecting female consumers with the world of wine through social media engagement.  Wine Sisterhood’s award-winning portfolio of wines include Middle Sister, Purple Cowboy, pro-mis-Q-ous, Monogamy, Deep Purple, Good Daughter, Cowgirl Sisterhood, Slow Dancer and Wine Sisterhood. Each wine has a unique personality and packaging and offer unparalleled quality and value. All wines are available at fine retailers nationally and at www.winesisterhood.com.

We’re gearing up for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas!

We’re headed to the rodeo of the year – the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, December 6-15 in Las Vegas. Boss Lady Terry Wheatley will be announcing the new Tough Enough to Wear Pink fundraising total on Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, December 10. This year marks the eighth anniversary of the campaign that has raised more than $12 million!

The 10 days of the Wrangler NFR are incredible. It’s exciting to watch the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding qualify for top rankings. Visitors are decked out in their best Wranglers, Justin boots and Resistol hats and hotel marquees are lit up with the names of country music headliners.

Of course, we’re happy to wear pink every night at the Wrangler NFR, but be sure to pack your favorite pink shirt for Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, Monday, December 10. Keep an eye out for the Tough Enough to Wear Pink crew who will have the latest pink gear on hand at the Official Tough Enough to Wear Pink booth at the Sands Convention Center (Booth Number 770) and at the Tough Enough trailer at the entrance of the Thomas & Mack Arena and at the Rodeo Committee Convention (Booth Number 417).

We hope to see you there too! Please send us a message on our Facebook Page with a picture of you in your favorite pink shirt or pink outfit at the Wrangler NFR so we can share the fun with everyone.

So, who’s ready for the rodeo?

A summer full of rodeos, stampedes, barrel races and more!

July is in full swing, and along with the heat come some of our favorite events and festivals! Tough Enough to Wear Pink, our nonprofit partner, is fundraising at a slew of rodeos and races this summer  – so mark your calendar if they’ll be in your area. Below are some we thought you would enjoy hearing more about:

This year the Calgary Stampede celebrates its 100th anniversary with a 10-day stampede starting tomorrow, July 6, in Alberta, Canada. Take these tips from a veteran stampede volunteer to get the most out of this year’s event.

Also celebrating a 100-year anniversary, the California Rodeo Salinas runs from Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22nd. Known as “Big Week,” this event was once called the Wild West Show and is richly steeped in history. A whopping 50,000 are expected at this year’s event to watch the country’s top professional rodeo athletes compete!

Barrel racing and barrel horse fans come on out and support Tough Enough To Wear Pink at the Dupont Barrel Race for Charity in Aurora, Oregon on July 21. All proceeds from this event will benefit breast cancer research.

The great American West lives on in Ogden Pioneer Stadium at Ogden Pioneer Days during the week of July 24th! Grab your friends and family and set out for Ogden, Utah, for a week of concerts, fireworks, rodeo events, and more – including a rodeo that is the two-time winner of the “Best Rodeo in the Wilderness Circuit.” The night of July 23rd is dedicated to Tough Enough to Wear Pink, so don’t forget to don your pink!

On July 28th catch Tough Enough at the Sheridan County Fair & PRCA Rodeo in Plentywood, Montana. This event features a rodeo and wild horse race, concerts, a demolition derby, games, food and more. It’s a great way to enjoy some the hottest days of the year, and help a great cause.

Can’t make it out to an event? You can still help out! For every purchase of Purple Cowboy Wines a contribution is made to support the Tough Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer campaign. And remember to enter for a chance to win two tickets to the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas, read all the details here.

Visit the Tough Enough to Wear Pink website for more information and to find other ways you can support the cause, like checking out their store. Stay tuned to the Tough Enough events tab on their Facebook Page for a full list of upcoming events.

Hope we see you at some of these summer events and don’t forget to wear your pink!

While away the hours this summer with a few of these ideas

This week marks the “official” start of summer although it may have already felt like summer started ages ago across most of the West. It’s time to take advantage of these longer days.

So what’s a good way to while away the extra hours this summer? We’ve got a few ideas:

Fire up the grill or fire pit. Mix together that favorite marinade or barbecue recipe and get to work on a summer meal for family and friends cooked just right. If you want to switch it up, try this Asian-inspired marinade recently featured on the Wine Sisterhood blog. Pair your favorite grilled dish with a bottle of Trail Boss Cabernet. The smoky BBQ flavor of grilled meats brings out the ripe plum, cherry and cassis of this dark red.

Dig into dessert al fresco. Now, what’s a barbecue without dessert? Shortcakes are a tasty, fresh way to satisfy those sweet cravings. Wine Sisterhood TV recently featured a variety of shortcake ideas and paired them up with one of our favorite sweet wines: Cowgirl Sisterhood.

Go fishing. When it’s too warm to be cooped up indoors and even hotter outside, grab your fishing pole and a friend and hit the closest fishing spot. When you bring home that fresh catch – or cook it over an open fire by the water – pair it with a bottle of Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red. Who says you can’t drink red with fish?  

Go to the rodeo. We proudly support breast cancer awareness through Tough Enough to Wear Pink and so can you! Follow Tough Enough’s events calendar for rodeos, roundups, stampedes and more all across the country. Show your support by donning pink and might we suggest this Mesh Cap with Rhinestones or a Unisex Pink Tee? And remember to enter the Gold Buckle Challenge and you could be the lucky winner of tickets to THE rodeo of the year. Sign up here today!

Here’s to a great summer!