| Longtime Fort Bend County Youth Rodeo Association member Alicia Rolland died on Mother's Day, losing an 11-year battle with cancer.
A single parent, the Valley Lodge resident left behind two children, Ashley, 18, and Tony, 16.
The long illness wiped out the family financially, so friends have organized the Alicia Rolland Memorial Barrel Race and Silent/Live Auction this Saturday to help get the two Foster High School students through this difficult period.
Exhibition barrels will be from 9 a.m. to noon, with open barrels beginning at 1 p.m. The live auction begins at 5 p.m., and the silent auction closes 30 minutes after the live auction is completed. A barbecue brisket will be served for lunch.
John Hendrick, president of the FBCYRA, said all proceeds will go to the children.
‘A tough go-getter'
“She was a tough go-getter - the toughest woman you ever know,” Hendrick said. “She never complained. My wife got breast cancer here in February, and as late as March 6 we were at a rodeo, and (Alicia) said, ‘You come by and I'll help you, I'll do this.'”
The FBCYRA and the community of Simonton/Valley Lodge are holding the benefit, Hendrick said. Ashley will graduate next week and will attend Sam Houston State University in the fall. Tony is a sophomore at FHS. “He's not only a very avid rodeo guy - he's won numerous all-around championships in different associations - but he's also competing for a varsity spot as a junior on Foster's (football) team,” Hendrick said.
Rodeo was her life
Alicia's life revolved around rodeos, particularly cutting horse and barrel racing, and she inherited a love of rodeo from her father, as he was a professional cutting horse trainer, Hendrick said. Alicia in turn passed along her love for rodeos to her children, who were members of several associations and won numerous awards.
Alicia had a passionate love of horses and won several trophies and buckles at the local, state and national level. She grew up in South Dakota and was a state 4-H Champion in Showmanship and Western Pleasure, and a Reserve Champion in Western Riding and Reining in 1970 and 1971.
She was a two-time State High School Champion in Girls Cutting and was Reserve Champion Cutter at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 1975.
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