Celebration of Life – Ride & Run for Breast Cancer

OUR STORY

RIDE & RUN FOR BREAST CANCER

The Celebration of Life was founded on a simple, powerful promise: to unite Florida's vibrant horse country and athletic community in the fight against breast cancer. Hosted at Ocala's historic Florida Horse Park, our annual Ride & Run brings families together on the trails and track to honor survivors, remember loved ones, and fund breast cancer research. Every registration, every sponsor, and every single stride moves us closer to a cure.

MESSAGES FROM OUR BENEFICIARIES

"We are grateful for community partners like Celebration of Life, Ride and Run for Breast Cancer who work so hard to organize events and activities that support innovative research and treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center. You strive with us to create a better future without cancer. Thank you so much for your support!"

Maria Muller

Executive Vice President and President, Moffitt Foundation

"Each year, thousands of individuals and their loved ones face a breast cancer diagnosis, reminding us of the urgent need for continued prevention, early detection, and treatment innovations. Your support of the Celebration of Life, Ride and Run for Breast Cancer advances breast cancer research at the UF Health Cancer Institute. Breakthroughs in digital imaging, targeted therapies, and tailored survivorship care can transform lives, and your support helps make this work possible. Thank you for helping us move research forward and bring new hope to those affected by breast cancer."

Dr. Thomas George

Director, UF Health Cancer Institute

WHY WE STARTED RIDE & RUN

A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

"While dealing with breast cancer, I dreamed about creating this joyous event as a way of fighting back and creating awareness. There is life after breast cancer, if diagnosed early.

"Fear" is a four-letter word that keeps many women from getting annual mammograms, doing self-exams or going to their doctors. Many walk around for years with lumps they can feel or are even visible. By allowing "fear" to rule their lives, they lessen their chances of survival. We hope they will see from the breast cancer survivors today, we are leading happy, healthy and productive lives.

The "Celebration of Life" event honors the courage and strength of each breast cancer survivor throughout this life-changing experience. Dr. Bernie Siegel wrote, "Cancer is a gift." It was not readily apparent to me, but as time went on I began to understand what he meant. My gifts are the extraordinary people who continue to come into my life. They show me kindness, compassion and love as I have never known before. And it is because of them, my life has new meaning.

JOIN THE ACTION

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE

Bring Your Own Horse Poker Ride

Bring your horse and enjoy a five-mile poker ride along the Florida Greenway. The ride is open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Minimum age is ten years old. Riders between the ages of ten and fifteen must be accompanied by their parent or responsible adult. Riders will collect their poker hand along the route while enjoying one of Ocala’s beautiful equestrian trails.

Rider Requirements

Every horse must have a current negative Coggins certificate. Please bring proof with you; it will be checked when you arrive.
Riders age 15 and younger must wear a properly fitted riding helmet, as required by Florida law.
All riders must wear riding boots, paddock shoes, or footwear with an adequate heel. Open-toed shoes are not permitted.
Backpacks may not be worn during the trail ride.

Family Run, Walk & Ruck Walk

Enjoy a scenic two-mile trail at your own pace between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. This is a family-oriented activity, not a timed race. Run, walk, or bring your ruck pack and join the Ruck Walk.

Parents or guardians must accompany participants age 15 and younger.
Strollers for young children are welcome.
Bicycles, scooters and motorized scooters, and motorized carts are not permitted on the route.
Water stations will be available along the trail.
We recommend wearing sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a hat.

Veterans, bring your ruck packs and join us!

Your Poker Ride Adventure

Poker Ride participants must enter through the Florida Horse Park entrance on Highway 475. You will be directed to horse-trailer parking directly across from the trail entrance. Parking is free. Please be ready to show your registration and current negative Coggins certificate. All required Florida Horse Park and Celebration of Life Waivers and Liability Release Agreements must be completed online before registration.

One poker hand is included with every adult registration. Trail riders can purchase additional poker hands. Registration will record the number of poker hands associated with each rider.

All Trail Riders must enter the Florida Horse Park through the Highway 475 entrance.

Trail Riders arriving the day before the Celebration of Life event may reserve overnight stabling and RV Hookup accommodations through one of the following two options. All reservations and payments are made directly with the facility.

Option A: Florida Horse Park – Onsite of event

11008 South Highway 475
Ocala, Florida 34480

Overnight rates:

RV hookup: $45 per night
Stall: $35 per night
Shavings: $8 per bag, with a minimum of two bags per stall

Please call the Florida Horse Park directly for October 30th reservations for rental of stalls, shavings and RV hookups for Live-In quarters overnight trailer parking.
Payment will be made directly to Florida Horse Park at that time.
The cut off date for reservations and payment for stalls, RV hookups and shavings will be at 12 Noon, Wednesday, October 28th with no exceptions.
Check-in time is earliest, 12 noon, but no later than 4pm on Oct. 30 to sign Florida Horse Park and Celebration of Life Waiver and Liability Releases before use of stalls and RV hookups.
*Copy of Coggins must also be handed in at this time. (Please bring a copy of Coggins to be retained by Florida Horse Park. We will not have access to a copy machine at this time.)
There is ONLY access to stalls and RV hookups. NO ARENA ACCESS. (Undercover, Fiber or Grass).
You are welcome to go on the trails.
We appreciate you using only the RV hookup and stall allocated to you when your reservations and payment were made.
Stalls must be cleaned after the event or guest will be charged a $20 cleaning fee per stall.

Option B: Black Horse Ranch

22651 SE Highway 42
Umatilla, FL 32784
(352) 718-2270

Anyone who is registered as a participant for the Celebration of Life event can camp at Black Horse Ranch from October 30 to November 1.
They must send us their ticket registration confirmation via email or a screenshot to our text line at 352-718-2270.
To book a reservation, Celebration of Life participants would text/call us at that same number (312) 718-2270.
All information needed will be on our website blackhorseranch.com.
Participants need to reserve their space by 12 noon, October 28th, directly through Black Horse Ranch at 352-718-2270.
Black Horse Ranch offers 30amp and 50amp sites, welcomes tent camping and horse trailer camping, and can accommodate XXL rigs no problem.
We have a kitchen and bathhouse (hot water, showers, laundry) on site that people are welcome to use.
We have trails off the property and arena on the property.
Outdoor individual paddocks, as well as, stalls.
We also have a pool and tack shop onsite.