Springfield Boy Joins Golden Circle Of Champions In Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
(Story: The Wrangler Network) A String Logic captured report…
SPRINGFIELD TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – A Springfield, TN boy got the experience of a lifetime, thanks to the Franklin Rodeo, according to a story released by The Wrangler Network). Braxton Hallums, Springfield, Tenn., and his family were part of the Golden Circle of Champions in Las Vegas Dec. 3-5. Golden Circle champions are children with life-threatening diseases, who were matched up with rodeo champions for activities and a meal, the agency reports. The Franklin Rodeo sponsored the Hallums. Photo courtesy Golden Circle of Champions/Tina Tonascia.
The Golden Circle of Champions is a non-profit focused on raising awareness about childhood cancer and the challenges families fighting this battle face.
Each year, 20 children champions and their families are sponsored by a select few pro rodeos across the nation, who pay for the child and his or her family to travel to Las Vegas.
Hallums, who is eight years old, has T Cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. He was diagnosed in November of 2021, and is taking monthly chemotherapies and one to three chemo treatments at home, daily. Doctors have told his parents, Glenn and Tara Hallums, that the type of cancer their son has is curable and treatable.
In Las Vegas, Braxton was paired up with two cowboys, one from his home state. Chad Masters, a two-time world champion team roper from Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Caleb Smidt, a a four-time (and reigning) world champion tie-down roper from Bellville, Texas, were his partners.
Tara Hallums is a former rodeo contestant who competed as a youth, in high school and college rodeo and as an International Pro Rodeo Association member. She was grateful for the time Masters and Smidt spent with her son. “From a competitor’s standpoint, I know how Chad and Caleb were feeling. They gave of their time. They truly had a heart for Braxton.”
The Franklin Rodeo helped the Hallums with financial help for the trip.
“The Franklin Rodeo is proud to continue our tradition of giving back to our community,” said Devin Gilliams, chairman of the rodeo. “We are truly blessed to support Braxton and his family for this great experience and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He is a great young man and we offer our prayers for his continued recovery.
“The battles these Champions and their families fight every day remind us that the day-to-day ‘problems’ we think we have are trivial,” Gilliam said. “We are very grateful to have played a part in this experience for Braxton.”
Children Champions received gifts, including Wrangler jeans, Justin Boots, a Resistol cowboy hat signed by contestants, a Montana Silversmith buckle, a Boot Barn buckle, and other gifts.
The 2023 Franklin Rodeo will be held May 18-20, 2023. Tickets go on sale March 15, 2023. For more information, visit the website at FranklinRodeo.com.
For the FULL article on The Wrangler Network and more photos, CLICK HERE.
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