By Joshua Larson
WHITEHOUSE, Texas — Starbright Therapeutic Equestrian Center is launching a unique and exciting fundraiser this summer aimed at boosting operations, expanding services, and strengthening its impact on local veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The inaugural “Starbright Stampede,” set to begin at the Whitehouse stadium parking lot, invites teams to decorate vehicles, complete roadside challenges, and raise funds through sponsorships and donations—all while racking up points based on the age, condition, and creativity of their cars.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be silly. But most of all, it’s going to help people,” said Melissa Lee, barn manager at Starbright. “The idea came from a friend who started a similar event in Abilene, and it’s been wildly successful there.”
The fundraiser, scheduled for June 22, involves a 12-to-15-hour road rally across four states. Teams will choose their own route and complete quirky, strategic challenges along the way. Participants will livestream parts of the event on Facebook and compete for prizes in three categories: fastest team, most money raised, and highest point total.
Entry costs $300 per team, with $100 going to the prize pot and $200 directly benefiting Starbright. “The overhead for this event is under 4%, which means more than 96% of the money raised goes straight to supporting Starbright’s mission,” Lee said.
Starbright serves both veterans and individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horseback riding. With riders ranging from age 4 to 79, the center offers programs that improve physical strength, mental health, and community connection.
“We’ve seen people completely transform,” Lee said. “One veteran hadn’t left his home in over 15 years. Now, he’s here all the time, helping around the barn, driving the tractor, and smiling.”
The organization currently faces a growing waitlist—up to two years on the therapeutic side—and hopes that funds raised from the Stampede will support the hiring of additional certified instructors and the completion of a new facility.
One of the challenges in organizing the event, Lee said, has been getting teams to sign up. “People assume they need to buy a special car, but that’s not true. You can use whatever vehicle you have. In fact, the older and crappier the car, the more points you get,” she said.
Sponsorships play a key role in fundraising. Teams are encouraged to raise money by offering local businesses ad space on their vehicles. “The more money you raise and donate, the more points you earn,” Lee said. “Some teams are selling sticker space. Others are raffling off donated items. It’s all about creativity.”
Participants will be required to bring props and prepare for the day’s challenges, which will be released a month in advance. Teams may also have multiple members and vehicles, with points awarded collectively. The event will conclude with an awards party the following night at Victoria Station on FM 344.
The center has set a $20,000 fundraising goal for its first year but hopes to exceed that. “If we get 10 teams, I’ll be happy,” Lee said. “But our friend in Abilene raised $100,000 in his first year with just 10 cars.”
Those unable to participate in the event can still contribute by sponsoring existing teams or donating directly to Starbright. Information and registration are available through the official event website, StarbrightStampede.com.
“We hope this becomes an annual tradition,” Lee said. “It’s not just a fundraiser—it’s a chance to build community, support a growing mission, and have a lot of fun along the way.”
