Dancing will be going on, everyone will enjoy a live auction and the food will be incredible. The whole community will come together in support of a sole cause.

Sound unreal? That's the idea behind the Pecos Pony Up! Fundraiser, an event which has played out like this without a hitch for the last five years.

This year, the Pecos Pony Up! will take place Saturday.

The team of volunteers that has put it all together expects nothing less than a good time for a good cause.

"It's is a fundraising idea meant to include the whole community," said Shelley Oram, event coordinator for the Pecos Pony Up! fundraiser. "It's just this big party with a silent auction, a live auction, and we invite the community."

Oram said the event was created to raise money for the Pecos Valley Medical Center and to offer a Western-themed event.

The Pecos Valley Medical Center began raising funds to improve several of its services five years ago as the number of patients visiting the center increased. Since then, the event has helped raise money for the ambulance service, a new X-ray machine and new equipment for the dental facility.

"We're expanding programs," said Alex Perea, co-chair of the fundraising committee and president of the medical center's board. "More people are being hired. I think we have the best ambulance service in the whole state. That's what fundraising did. We have the new X-ray machine at the clinic. Now people don't have to go all the way to Santa Fe if something is broken."

"It really helps us to have unrestricted revenue for the things that (the medical center) needs," said Sig Olson, executive director of the medical center. "Plus it's a lot of fun. It has helped me get to know a lot of members of the community. It is a very positive thing ... other fundraisers are more work, because they aren't as much fun. They focus more on raising the money than building community. This (fundraiser) is two-pronged."

Olson is not the only one who has seen the difference the event has made Pecos and the surrounding area.

"Having this fundraiser has really brought people together," said Charlotte Taft, a volunteer who helps with buying the necessities and running the auctions. "It's really fun and there is always a big variety of things ... there's something for everyone. The live auction is just fun, there is always something funny and there is delicious food being provided by Casa de Herrera, whose owner is an expert pastry chef."

The entertaining Scotty Rice runs the live auction and there is always a "surprise."

This year, there are a few new things to look forward to. The event will be held at the Pecos Rodeo Grounds, as it has outgrown Canela's Restaurant. There is also a new reason to donate to the cause — Pecos Valley Medical Center has outgrown its facility as well.

"We have started a campaign to build a new building," Oram said. "There are more folks coming and adding the X-ray machine makes it feel like we are all on top of one another. Through grants and fundraising ... we hope to raise $6 million. That is what our funds will go to this year — a nice, new building."

The new building is expected to be 16,000 square feet (more than twice the size of the old one), which will include room for the 32-member staff and more space for behavioral health care and medical procedures.

"This is one of the most worthy causes that anyone can participate in," Oram said. "You can do so by volunteering, sponsoring the event or by coming, It is one of the most important causes you can put your time and energy into."

"Pecos Valley Medical Center used to be as tiny as someone's living room," Taft said. "It was just someone's idea. It all comes from the community. It's really a labor of love and it is a good way to get involved."