Team Pink

Holly Hayworth sent what she thought was a simple email. Tony Mendes thought different. It was at the 2007 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas that Hayworth and her son, Cole, 18, met Mendes at an autograph signing. The two spoke only briefly, but Mendes handed her a business card and told her to check out his Web site. A few days later, she was back home in Texas when she discovered the 30-year-old bull rider was accepting $90 donations from fans in exchange for embroidering their name on his vest and in a short email Hayworth, a breast cancer survivor, asked if he would instead be willing to wear a symbolic pink ribbon. That simple email did something much more than Hayworth ever dreamed possible-Mendes, touched by her personal triumph, did more than wear a ribbon. Just four months later, they have become fast-friends and have already teamed up to raise several thousand dollars, 100 percent of which has been donated to the Susan Koman Center in hopes of helping to find a cure for breast cancer. "He wanted to take it further," said Hayworth, who in October of 2005 was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer that had advanced to her lymph nodes. Three months of chemotherapy, two months of radiation and five surgeries later, the single mother with two kids - she also has an 8-year-old daughter Caly - is helping to raise awareness. "Tony dedicated himself to fighting for a cure and...he's made me want to get up off my butt and help fight." "It's not about what I can do," Mendes added. "It's about what everybody can do together." The first thing Mendes did was to part ways with his familiar chaps and switch to a black pair with oversized pink ribbons on both thighs and "Breast Cancer Awareness" stitched along the bottom of each leg. A recent event in Oklahoma City, he arranged for a booth on the concourse of the Ford Center where he signed autographs and Hayworth shared stories with numerous breast cancer survivors and others who have been touched by the disease. Mendes was joined by Travis Briscoe and McKennon Wimberly, who also wore ribbons and signed photographs for fans that stopped by the booth. Eventually even Nick Landreneau, who wasn't originally scheduled to be at the booth, made his way over and signed breast cancer awareness brochures. "I was just so surprised by all these tough guys coming up and wanting to help out," Hayworth said. Mendes is hoping to continue to not only raise awareness, but to also continue raising money. The Nevada native recently relocated to Colorado and is hosting weekly bull riding events in Fountain, Colo., on Wednesday and Thursday. Bull riding fans that make it out to the events, which are presented by Try Mendes Bucking Bulls, can donate to breast cancer awareness. He's also agreed to donate 10 percent of all his sponsorship money to the cause as well. "Tony Mendes is my hero," Hayworth said, "and, to me, the pink ribbon is a sign of a battle you've won."

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