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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the General Assembly
3pays honor and respect to those individuals who have
4contributed to the success of their community, the State, and
5to the efforts to cure childhood cancers and other pediatric
6diseases; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Beginning in 2001, Roger and Regina Landon of
8Chandlerville have organized numerous horse trail rides at the
9Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area each June
10to raise money for the St. Jude's Children's Research
11Hospital; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Since 2001, horse enthusiasts from all over
13Central Illinois have been attending the Saddle-Up for St.
14Jude event to raise money for children diagnosed with cancer
15and other pediatric diseases that are being treated at St.
16Jude's; since 2001, a total of $730,000 has been raised at
17these events benefiting the children at St. Jude's Hospital;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, located
20in Memphis, Tennessee, treats children with cancer and other
21pediatric diseases at no cost to the patients; research
22efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic,

 

 

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1and chemical basis of catastrophic diseases in children,
2identifying cures for such diseases, and promoting their
3prevention; research is focused specifically on cancers,
4acquired and inherited immunodeficiency disorders, sickle cell
5disease, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Roger and Regina established these trail rides at
7the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife area to
8highlight the beautiful facets of nature found at this
9wildlife area, to raise funds for the worthy cause of St.
10Jude's Children's Research Hospital, to bring horse and fish
11enthusiasts together to enjoy the trails of this wildlife
12area, and to encourage camping at the area; and
 
13    WHEREAS, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital is
14associated with Children's Hospital of Illinois, located in
15Peoria; and
 
16    WHEREAS, It is estimated to cost nearly $1 billion to
17operate St. Jude's this year, with the majority of those funds
18coming from generous donors; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Roger and Regina Landon started Saddle Up for St.
20Jude's in 2001; their initial goal was to be more successful
21than other Saddle Up fundraisers in Illinois, which then
22averaged $3,500; for the first benefit, they acquired

 

 

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1donations for the meat to be served, the side dishes, paper
2products, and the evening entertainment bands; the event had
3Sponsorship Tickets, where each ticket cost $100 and produced
4a winner for every 20 sold; 1st place won a Browning Silver
5shotgun, and the next winner won $400; raffle tickets for half
6a beef and cash prizes were also sold; during the weekend of
7the event, there was a silent auction, which usually generated
8a great deal of the proceeds, with all the items donated by
9generous friends and acquaintances; St. Jude's received
10$10,000 after the first benefit, and $14,000 after the second
11year, with the amount increasing each year to over $55,000
12last year; St. Jude's has received a total of $730,000 and, due
13to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a virtual fundraiser was
14held that raised an additional $35,000 for St. Jude's; this
15benefit is well-attended, not only by horse enthusiasts but
16also by individuals interested in supporting St. Jude's; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 2012, Roger Landon received the Special Event
18Coordinator of the Year from St. Jude's, which coincided with
19the 50th anniversary for St. Jude's Children's Research
20Hospital (1962-2012); Roger and Regina attended the awards
21recognition program in Memphis, Tennessee; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Roger and Regina Landon are personally interested
23in the Jim Edgar Panther Creek Equestrian Park, not only
24because of it being the location for the St. Jude's benefit but

 

 

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1also for their desire to keep the park beautiful and enticing
2for everyone to visit and camp; they have initiated taking
3care of the flower gardens, each year pruning and replanting
4shrubs and flowers as needed and purchasing mulch to beautify
5the gardens; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Roger and Regina Landon enjoy meeting new camp
7hosts and assisting them as they settle in their positions;
8they have a knack for making them feel comfortable with their
9new environment and duties; often, a different camp host is
10accepted for the position each year; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
13REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the
14equestrian campground within the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State
15Fish and Wildlife Area in Chandlerville as the "Landon
16Equestrian Campground"; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Department of Natural Resources is
18requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
19State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
20giving notice of the name "Landon Equestrian Campground"; and
21be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That we commend Roger and Regina Landon on their

 

 

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1distinguished volunteerism and their lifelong dedication to
2the people of Illinois and to preserving the natural fish and
3wildlife areas of Illinois; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5presented to the Director of Natural Resources, Roger Landon,
6and Regina Landon.