Montana Ranchers Rally for 11-Year-Old Worden Boy

Montanans are typically quite giving when it comes to helping out our friends and neighbors in need. Folks from all walks of life are always willing to chip in a few bucks or donate items for local raffles and fundraisers, and the Farm and Ranch community is no exception. In fact, oftentimes, they do it best.

Read More: Montana Rancher's Daughter Shares Heartfelt Tribute for Her Dad

The Calves to Cure DMD Cattle Sale is on September 18th in Billings.

Paul and Laura Heaton are ranchers near Worden, MT. When their son Grant was three years old, he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Disease. This devastating disease - one of the most severe forms of inherited muscular dystrophies - eventually destroys ALL of the body's muscles.

DMD is almost exclusive to males, and boys who have the hereditary disease rarely live beyond their 20s. Heaton's boy is now 11 and is doing as well as one can expect. Other than physical therapy, swimming, daily stretches and exercises, and regular medical appointments, there isn't much else they can do.

Get our free mobile app

Six years ago, the Heaton family decided to raise money to help find a cure for Duchenne's Disease, launching an all-class cattle sale dubbed Calves to Cure DMD. To date, the sale has raised over $140,000 for CureDuchenne.

Donate an animal for the auction, or buy a raffle ticket for free beef.

Sellers can bring a calf, yearling, cow, etc., to the sale on September 18th at Billings Livestock Commission and donate either the entire check for that animal, a set dollar amount, or a percentage of the sale price. Find out more HERE.

If you don't happen to have any cattle to sell, the general public can still participate in the fundraiser by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win 1 of 8 50-pound boxes of premium Montana beef, cut, wrapped, and ready for your freezer.