Betting on Hope: Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale Supports Gibson Cancer Center

UNC Health Southeastern Foundation Advocates met recently to plan Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale event details and discuss how the event will support Gibson Cancer Center.

By Heather Walters, Manager, Donor Experience & Engagement, UNC Health Southeastern Foundation

Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale, presented by Smith’s Refrigeration, Inc., returns on Friday, Nov. 14 for its 13th year with the same mix of music, food, and togetherness that makes this event a community favorite. Guests will gather for dancing, lively entertainment, and a meal prepared by Fuller’s Old Fashioned Barbecue, with the addition of interactive casino style games that add a playful twist to the night.

While the evening promises plenty of fun, the heart of Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale remains its purpose. The event supports UNC Health Southeastern, and this year Gibson Cancer Center, where community giving plays a vital role in providing advanced care close to home. Support for our hospital is needed now more than ever, and this event reminds us that we cannot do this work without our community. Every ticket, sponsorship, volunteer, and gift helps ensure patients and families continue receiving exceptional care right here in Robeson County. We are betting on our community to once again rise to the occasion and help keep hope and healing close to home.

This year’s event is stacked with touches that make the evening stand out. Entertainment will feature the band Snapback, thanks to our Hoedown Sponsors ApolloMD, Liberty Healthcare, and First Bank. With the support of these community partners, Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale continues to grow as both a celebration and a cause that makes a difference, offering an atmosphere that feels both familiar and new.

The UNC Health Southeastern Foundation Advocates, a group of committed volunteers, have worked together to bring this vision to life. In July, the group gathered at the home of Anne Christopher and Travis Kemp to plan event details and discuss where this year’s proceeds could make the greatest impact. Their efforts are rooted in a shared commitment to UNC Health Southeastern and to the Hope Starts Here campaign, which advances the mission of Gibson Cancer Center. Proceeds from the evening will help transform the cancer center lobby, a place that has welcomed patients and families for decades, into one that provides greater comfort and dignity. It is a project that reflects the heart of our community and preserves excellent care close to home.

“Boots & BBQ has always been about gathering for a good time with a good purpose,” said UNC Health Southeastern Foundation Executive Director Sissy Grantham. “This year brings a few new touches, but the focus remains the same, to stand together for UNC Health Southeastern and Gibson Cancer Center patients and families, advocating for all things good.”

Community members are invited to join in this effort by supporting Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale through sponsorships or by making a gift to the Path to Hope brick campaign or Tree of Hope donor recognition wall through Gibson Cancer Center’s Hope Starts Here campaign. Every gift makes a lasting impact for patients who depend on the care and compassion of UNC Health Southeastern and our community.

Boots & BBQ Rodeo Royale, presented by Smith’s Refrigeration, Inc., will be held at the Southeastern Agricultural Center. Join us for an evening of music, good food, great company, and a few surprises along the way, all in support of hope and healing in Robeson County and our surrounding communities.

To learn more and select a sponsorship opportunity, visit www.unchealthsoutheastern.org/foundation/events/boots-and-bbq/ .