Glencross roughstock event rides into sixth year

The Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event is saddling up for its sixth year of raising important funds for two worthy central Alberta charitable organizations.

Along with its accompanying poker night, the roughstock event has raised nearly $1.2 million for the Hockey Alberta Foundation – Every Kid Every Community program and for Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta.

“Playing in Alberta so many years, obviously I have ties here. Alberta’s been great to me during my career and it’s just nice to give back whenever you can,” Glencross said at last month’s Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic in Canmore.

The event has come a long way from what Glencross says were humble beginnings.

“The first year we did it, we really didn’t know what to expect,” he admitted. “I’d done a few golf tournaments before that and this was just something new that we wrapped our brains around to see how we could be unique and different. The support we get from Red Deer and surrounding areas, it’s phenomenal.”

Chad Krahn

Unofficial 2024 By-Election Results

7h ago

Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association

Lacombe farmer speaks at provincial conference about increasing rural crime and mental health strains

13h ago

April 23-May 2, 2024

Red Deer Public Schools set to launch Open House series

13h ago

The Every Kid Every Community program provides grants for local communities aimed at eliminating barriers and getting kids into the game of hockey.

“Anytime you can help out families who may need some assistance getting their kids into hockey, it’s definitely rewarding,” Glencross noted. “Every kid that wants to play hockey should be able to play hockey.”

Since opening its doors more than five years ago, Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta has been home to over 4200 families in need of help while their child is in hospital.

“They have a lot of operating costs during the year. Anything we can give to them, we’re pretty fortunate in Red Deer to have a place like that at our fingertips,” Glencross explained.

The roughstock event is entering its second year at Westerner Park after moving from the Daines Ranch near Innisfail. Glencross says the future for his rodeo and poker night is looking bright.

“Eventually, at the end of the day we’d possibly like to make it bigger,” he admitted. “But for now we’re pretty happy with how the event is going with the way it is.”

This year’s Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event starts with the poker night on Thursday, Aug. 24 followed by the bullriding, saddle bronc and bareback rodeo at Westerner Park’s Stockmens Pavillion the next night at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through Tickets Alberta.