‘Fight Like a Champion’

Community supports teen in battle with cancer

Fifteen-year-old Linden-Kildare student Josh Arnold took several smacks of pie in the face Saturday at the “Fight Like A Champion” park festival in Linden.

He was happy to do so.

The festival was a way to raise funds and assist in his fight against cancer. The pie-in-the-face contest raised $1 for every puff of whipped cream that was thrown at him.

Especially noticeable were the many brightly colored T-shirts being worn in Josh’s honor this day.

The festival drew an estimated 200 people during the day and raised $7,300 for the family, organizers said.

“Josh is doing as well as can be expected,” said father Jerry Arnold of his son’s illness, which had been noticed three years ago and diagnosed as leukemia. “It’s been a long journey, and he’s been in remission but there are still months to go.”

Josh’s mother, Patricia Arnold added that the festival had been a wonderful idea to help build both Josh’s and the community’s spirit. She added she felt honored to help both in organizing and assisting during the day of the event.

“Thanks to all for loving our family,” she said.

During the day, the community put together a 5K run, Shine car show, watermelon-eating contest, water-balloon fight, bake sale, silent auction, horseshoe tournament and other fun activities in the Linden City Park.

Fight Like A Champion was organized by the local community benefit group Linden United and by Texas Hunt for the Cure. Earlier, Josh had participated in a Hunt for the Cure event in which the organization takes youth with threatening illnesses on an outdoor hunting adventure.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Prayer kicked off both the Fight Like A Champion 5K race, above, and the day of fun and fundraising for Linden-Kildare student Josh Arnold.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ The plate filled with whipped cream has missed Josh Arnold this time, but an earlier one got him, as did many others that followed. The event was raising money for Josh’s own medical treatment.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Caylee Fuller, 12, left, and Nevaeh Arnold, 13, take out the sign Nevaeh made to support her brother Josh during the Fight Like A Champion community benefit held Saturday at Linden City Park.