BATTLE MOUNTAIN - On Tuesday evening, May 15, at 6 p.m. the Battle Mountain Civic Center had a line of guests that went out the front door waiting to get in and purchase their bingo tickets in support of 19-year-old local teen Houston Lucas, who is fighting large cell lymphoma. This is a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system which is part of the immune system that works to fight against disease and infections.
Lucas comes from a family with deep roots in the Austin and Battle Mountain area. His parents are Jim and Kim Lucas of Battle Mountain and he has a sister TedDee. Lucas comes from a large family with plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins, the kind of family that can form baseball teams at reunions and gatherings; the kind of family everyone should grow up with.
On this evening that team got together with the community and gave Lucas the great support that he will take to bat facing the disease he has been given, and he will be the winner.
Approximately 250 guests attended the fundraiser hosted by Lucas' family and $11,000 was raised during the event. Fifteen games of bingo were played with great prizes. Angie Gonzalez emceed the bingo games, doing her usual great job as she always does at local fundraisers. The Owl Club donated concessions of hot dogs, nachos, chips, popcorn and beverages. There was a silent dessert auction with approximately 25 items on it; one cake went for $150.
The generosity was overflowing as people bid on desserts and bought raffle tickets, T-shirts, bracelets and concessions in support of helping Lucas fight his battle and face the disease that he plans to slay.
Several individuals and local businesses donated prizes for the fundraiser. Elsa Smith won the Phillips flatscreen television donated by Royal Hardware, Tammy Lowe won the Kindle Fire donated by Jenifer and Luie Salutregui and Tralina Tyson won $513 cash from the 50/50 raffle. Robin and Jeff York donated a whole lamb cut and wrapped that went for $200 in the auction. There were numerous other great prizes won throughout the different bingo games.
Lucas had several aunts, uncles and cousins that hosted the event, handing out prizes, working concessions, and of course cleaning up the civic center after the event. During and in between games Lucas and his entire family visited with all of the guests, expressing their appreciation for the support they were receiving from the community.
The following Friday Lucas would endure another aggressive five-day chemotherapy treatment in Reno. The money raised at this event is going to help with the expenses of his treatments, travelling, food and gas. Unfortunately when it is necessary to leave the local area for medical treatment the experience has a tendency to not be so caring and comforting. Patients see the medical provider and on the way out the door you get told how much your insurance will pay and then you hear, "How much can you pay today and how do you intend to pay the balance?"
At the end of the bingo fundraiser for Houston Lucas, his father, Jim Lucas got up in front of the crowd and on behalf of the entire family he expressed their extreme thanks for the support the community has given his son through this trying time. He said how words were not enough, but actually his were and the crowd got it. It was a very heartfelt moment. This fundraiser not only gave $11,000 to help this family, but it also gave love, hope, faith and strength for the 19-year-old Houston Lucas to fight his illness.
If anyone was not able to attend the fundraiser and would like to contribute, donations can be taken at the Wells Fargo Bank to the Houston Lucas Fund.
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