Friday, Nov. 13, we all put on our “cowgirl boots” in my hometown of Raleigh, NC and celebrated raising money for the 2009 Raleigh Roundup Cancer Benefit. This was Whitmeyer Photography’s third year donating our services to this event and I am so proud to be a part of such a positive event year after year! The Raleigh Roundup is put on every year by the Red Sword Guild, a group of 150 Raleigh women dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Since it’s founding in 1996, the Red Sword Guild has raised a total of $2,368,453 for cancer research!! Not a small accomplishment!
Despite the current status of the economy, there was a great turn out for Friday’s event and the coordinators were delightfully overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity and willingness to donate!
The Red Sword Guild (above) spends lots of time and energy putting together the Roundup every year.
One of the best parts of the event and what gets people attending year after year is all the wonderful food donated by local NC chefs. This year’s donating chefs included Rick Boyer (executive chef of the Biltmore Estate), Corbett Monica of Bella Monica in Raleigh, Scott James of 115 Midtowne in Raleigh (photo below), Daniel Schurr of Second Empire in Raleigh, Ian Sullivan of Vivace in Raleigh and many more!
Lionel Vatinet of La Farm Bakery in Cary, NC (below) graciously donates his services to the cause.
David Mao (below) of the Duck and Dumpling Restaurant in Raleigh, NC has been a part of the Raleigh Roundup for quite a while. I personally look forward to his dumplings every year!
Members of the Guild greet guests with drinks (below)
Attendees peruse the many donated silent auction items (below) while personal memorials and honorariums are projected on the screens above.
Jason Boland and the Stragglers start the night’s entertainment off with a bang (below).
Attendees try their hand at the mechanical bull! (above and below)
In addition to the silent auction, live auction, live entertainment, amazing food, and more, guests could also participate in some gambling for a good cause with the Ace High Casino (below)
There were lots of fabulous cowboy (and cowgirl) boots at the Roundup this year (above and below).
Red Sword Guild President, Allison Sheehan (below) welcomes everyone and thanks them for their continued support for the cause.
The Live Auction was a great success!
The Auctioneer speaks while reminders of why we support this cause flash on the screens behind him (below)
Betsy Davis of the American Cancer Society and a member of the Red Sword Guild, gets excited about the amazing amount of participation in the live auction!! (below)
There was literally so much participation that they had to scramble to take down everyone’s numbers! (below). Again, this is just an amazing show of gratitude in a time of economic struggle.
Betsy and others couldn’t contain their emotions at all the donations! (above and below)
It was an emotional auction for everyone involved (above and below) and I have to admit being a bit taken myself by such an amazing show of support for a very important cause close to all of our hearts!
An extra special thanks to my assistant, Kelly Van Norman (below), who donated her assisting services to this great cause! I had so much fun working with you, Kelly, and can’t wait for you to work with me again soon! Kelly and I re-united at a recent wedding of mine in Blowing Rock, NC but were actually volleyball teammates at Daniels Middle School in Raleigh! Thanks so much for being a part of the Roundup, Kelly (and for wearing your cowgirl boots!!)
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