Crusaders helping patients

Locals gathered at Hazel and Pearls during Moonlight Madness for the drawing of the T-town Cancer Crusaders rifle raffle. The winner of the Remington 783, camo barrel rifle is Jerah Bushur. Bushur is an avid hunter, just harvesting a big buck deer this season and looking forward to using her new gun next season. Bushur wasn't present for the drawing but when Connie Hoffman, President of T-town Cancer Crusaders, called her at work, she came rushing over. Ironically, she was dressed in costume as a stylish cowgirl and the gun completed her Halloween costume.

 Cory and Stefanie Gilbert donated the rifle to T-town Cancer Crusaders. This fundraiser as well as their main fundraiser, June brunch and silent auction, has received overwhelming support by the community. The rifle raffle ticket sales reached beyond the locals to many out of town people sending money for tickets, purchases of tickets came from people all over the US who grew up here, had family here, or just heard about it and because of cancer touching their family they wanted to assist.

 T-town Cancer Crusaders non-profit was formed in May.  "I am so grateful for the support I have received from the community during my 5 and a half year battle, and I wanted to pay it forward by helping other local cancer patients," said Hoffman

The team of 18 members has grown quickly and volunteered many hours because they have seen local cancer patients on very limited income battling cancer and have witnessed how much our financial support was appreciated.

"Our goal is to help provide financial support to families battling cancer so they can relieve some stress and focus their energy on healing," said Hoffman

Specifically, financial support for hotels, meals, car rental, flights, wage loss or other non-directly related medical expenses is given to qualified applicants to help with travel to specialty oncology services. To qualify, cancer patients must be a Hot Springs County resident, fill out a short application, and be approved by our team. Three families have been helped and the rifle raffle helped educate people about T-town Cancer Crusader's mission and hopefully encourage cancer patients to apply for assistance. To receive an application, email towncrusaders@gmail.com.

 All of the proceeds go directly to the cancer patient. The team donated all the food for the brunch, as well as any office supplies, advertising or other administrative fees so the patient receives 100 percent.