DELAVAN - A professional bull riding event aims to bring family fun to Central Illinois while raising money for a member of the agriculture community who was hospitalized for an extended period last spring.

The event will bring some of the top bull riders of the National Federation of Professional Bullriders (NFPB) from around the country to Four Rocks Arena near Delavan.  The indoor arena's owner and operator, Roger Rawlings, spent several weeks in a Peoria hospital last spring due to a rare lung infection.  Organizers of the Friday and Saturday evening events hope to raise money to help Rawlings defray medical bills.

Free pony rides for kids will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 each evening, and the actual event begins at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 12 and 13.

"An event like this you typically have to travel to the larger cities to see this caliber of cowboys and bull riding," said Randy Littrell, one of the event organizers.  "To be able to bring something like this to basically a rural community - we're excited about it."

Admission is $10 for adults and children 10 and under are free.  Concessions will be available.

"It's going to be a great outing for a family.  Good entertainment, and it's not going to break the bank to do it," said Littrell.

Four Rocks Arena is located at the Delavan exit just off Interstate 155.  For more information, visit www.rawlings4rarena.com.

Carrie Muehling can be reached at carrie@wjbc.com.