RODEO TO BENEFIT MDA

Fans who in the past have been starved for rodeo between the Longhorn Rodeo at the Show Me Center in February, the Sikeston Bootheel Rodeo in August and the smaller competitions at the Flickerwood Arena in Jackson have a new attraction.

Cape's Wildest Rodeo will be presented tonight and Saturday night in front of the grandstand at Arena Park. The benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association is sanctioned by the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association and the American Cowboys Rodeo Association.

MDA sponsors fund raisers throughout the year, but this is the organization's first rodeo. "It's going to be a good time," said Melody Anderson, district director for the MDA.

"... We want it to be an annual rodeo that benefits MDA."

The Wooten Rodeo Company of Hillsboro is providing the Competition. The rodeo is owned by Keith Wooten, who recently relocated to Jackson.

The company does one benefit rodeo each year and this year chose the MDA as the beneficiary.

Because the state competition will be in Sedalia in two weeks, cowboys and cowgirls from all over the state will be in Cape Girardeau trying to boost their point totals. "Some of the best of the best are trying to get in," Anderson said.

The rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. both nights with an event called Mutton Bustin', open to kids up to 9 years old.

The regular events of bareback riding, calf roping, over 40 calf roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, cowgirl barrel racing, team roping, bull riding and Mexican poker will begin at 8 both nights. Another event for kids will be calf roping.

Money raised will be used for muscular dystrophy patient services, such as a free clinic at St. Francis Medical Center, family support groups sessions, summer camp and research.

More than 40 different neuromuscular diseases fall under the heading of muscular dystrophy. One of the most common is Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Another is Lou Gehrig's disease.

The Cape Girardeau office of the MDA supervises 35 counties in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.

"All proceeds will remain local," Anderson said.