Event raises funds for leukemia patient

Texas Hunt for the Cure is an organization that takes people with a life-threatening illness on hunting trips or sometimes fishing trips.

Josh Arnold, a Linden-Kildare sophomore who is fighting leukemia, went on such a trip recently and said he enjoyed it.

Several Hunt for the Cure members came to Josh’s “Fight Like a Champion” festival in Linden, Texas, on July 7 to help raise money for the family. One guest’s contribution was to bring a dozen watermelons and supervise a watermelon-eating contest, which went over well.

Hunt for the Cure member Shane Webster spent time creating activities for the festival and designed the bright yellow T-shirts worn by almost everyone on this day.

The Hunt for the Cure serves people ranging in age frrom 6 to 23.

Although it has a Forney, Texas, mailing address, it is led by supporters from all around the Wills Point, Texas, area. The group tries to cover the entire state of Texas.

Whenever the group makes a plan of action to help someone, members from a wide area show up.

“We try to create a normal time for the person and the family we’re helping,” member Stacy Stanberry said. “Something far away from the hospital environment.”

Member Shane Meine from Eustace, Texas, has a special reason for being a full-time member of Hunt for The Cure. His son Preston, who had gone on a trip earlier this year, recently passed away.

Hunt for the Cure can be contacted at Stacy@ Texashuntforthecure.org. Since January, 25 young people have signed up, organizers said.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ The Hunt for the Cure members are, from left, Gene Willis and Stacy Stanberry of Wills Point, Texas; Julie and Shane Webster of Mabank, Texas; Josh Arnold of Linden, Texas; Shane Meine and Crystal Meine of Eustace, Texas; and Lisa Latham of Martins Mill, Texas.