Thanks to horsepeople, Harness Racing BC, and the organization’s outgoing executive director, Jackson Wittup, O’Brien Award finalist Cherie Paskaruk will be at the awards gala in Mississauga, Ont. on Saturday, February 7 in hopes that she lands the 2014 Media Excellence Award for outstanding photography.

Paskaruk has been nominated in the category for her shot that captured trainer Sandra Roberts jogging Alverna on an unusual wintry morning at Fraser Downs Racetrack in February of 2014. The photo was used as part of the 'I Love Canadian Harness Racing' Fan Club’s 'Spirit of the Horse' 12-month poster series, and later as part of the fan club’s 2015 ‘Heart of Harness Racing’ calendar.

In his ‘Hoss Talk’ column for The Province, Tom Wolski explains that horsepeople, Wittup and HRBC came together to ensure that Paskaruk would be in attendance when the 2014 O’Brien Awards winners are announced.

Wolski explains that Wittup started a fundraising page with a $50 pledge, and soon horsepeople and Harness Racing B.C. were on board and raised over $1,500.

“For all of them to get together like that so quickly was amazing,” Wolski has quoted Paskaruk as saying. “My flight has been covered along with a hotel for Saturday night. I’ll spend Sunday with my Grandma. I still can’t believe this is happening.”

(With files from The Province)