Rodeo helps burn patients, families

Whether caring for children burned in a South Carolina house fire, or for an Albany, Ga., chemical plant employee burned in an industrial accident, Augusta's Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital is critically important to our community's health care infrastructure.

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In a strong supporting role of the burn center is the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation through its Rodeo Nights Pro Rodeo, set for this weekend at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Columbia Road.

While it might be hard to make the connection between cowboys and burn patients, the Burn Foundation makes a direct connection: Last year the rodeo raised $23,000 to assist patients and their families during treatment at the burn center. It's the Burn Foundation's second-largest annual fundraiser.

The event itself is spectacular; in fact, in 2006, the event won the award as Best New Rodeo in the United States from the International Professional Rodeo Association.

This is the rodeo's fifth year. Gates open at the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with performances each night at 7:30 p.m. including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, breakaway roping and bareback riding.

Tickets cost $10 in advance for adults, $6 for children, and are available at Boots, Bridles and Britches in Grovetown, or at any Georgia Bank and Trust. At the gate, tickets cost $14 for adults, $8 for children.

And remember: It's not just about those bucking broncs; it's about helping burn patients and their families in our community.