Riders on horseback from all points of Iowa will leave tomorrow and head for the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny.
The Pony Express Riders are embarking on their annual ride to Camp Sunnyside, bringing along the proceeds from a year’s worth of fundraisers.
The trek started with three riders in 1968 and has continued to grow, according to Marlene Scarlett of Maxwell, secretary for the Pony Express Riders.
“We’ll have rides coming in from all over the state,” Scarlett says. “We all get together at the John Deere parking lot on Saturday and we’ll have a big parade ride on to the camp. I’m hoping will have 250 to 300 riders or maybe more, depending on what the weather does for us.”
Governor Branstad is scheduled to be among the dignitaries who will welcome the riders on Saturday afternoon.
Scarlett says a Victory Dance is planned at Lake Robbins near Woodward on Saturday night. They’ve been selling raffle tickets for a John Deere four-wheeler and the winner will be drawn at the dance, which is open to the public.
The ride brought in $239,000 dollars for Camp Sunnyside last year and since 1968, it’s raised more than $9-million.
Located on 88 acres, Camp Sunnyside was designed, built and is staffed to meet the recreational needs of campers, children and adults, with all types of disabilities.
Learn more at: www.ponyexpressridersofiowa.org
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City