Dixie Diamond Hales to be honored at Golden Circle of Champions at NFR

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 30, 2023) – It seems only fitting that the only Gold Medal Rodeo in the World would be a participating rodeo in the Golden Circle of Champions at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City is excited to join with rodeos across the United States to raise awareness for children battling pediatric cancer.

            The Golden Circle of Champions was founded in 2016 by the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, to raise awareness and provide funds to help local children battling pediatric cancer. Each year, 25 children and their families are honored during the opening night of the Elks Rodeo. Through donations and fundraising efforts, support is provided directly to the families to fulfill their most urgent needs: paying bills, buying medicine, and caring for their family. What started in Santa Maria now makes its way to Las Vegas each December for a special weekend for these children and their families.

            Eight local Las Vegas families along with 12 families chosen from PRCA-sanctioned rodeos from across the country will be treated like champions at rodeo-themed activities in their honor. Each of the 20 families in attendance will include a child between the ages of 6 and 17 who has been diagnosed with life-threatening cancer or associated illnesses.

            While in Las Vegas during the Wrangler NFR, the children and their families will have an opportunity to dine with rodeo champions, receive special gifts and learn about the sport of rodeo. On Sunday, December 10, all honorees will attend the Wrangler NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center.

            The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo in conjunction with Intermountain Health chose Dixie Diamond Hales to represent them during this exciting event. Dixie is a 12-year-old Las Vegas native that is currently receiving treatment at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Dixie was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on August 21, 2022. She is currently in long term maintenance and has recently resumed in-person classes at Game Changers Sports Academy.

            Dixie comes from a large loving family that includes six children. Dixie is the fifth of the six kids. She has always had a love for horses and loves to talk to the nurses at Primary about her love of the Western industry. She was recently gifted her first horse from Make-A-Wish. His name is Mikey and is a five-year old black Friesian/Quarter cross gelding. She hopes to one day compete in reining or breakaway roping and pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

            Recently the six ladies of the Utah Cowgirl Collective spent a day with Dixie riding horses and roping in West Bountiful, Utah at the Rockin E Farms. The Utah Cowgirl Collective will be on hand in Las Vegas December 9-11 assisting with the Golden Circle of Champions and continue to make memories with Dixie.

            For more information about the Golden Circle, please visit GoldenCircleofChampions.com. For information on the Utah Cowgirl Collective visit www.utahcowgirlcollective.com.