Wishes came true for multiple area Make-A-Wish families this weekend as a sizable crowd gathered in Teutopolis for the seventh ever Buckin’ for Heroes rodeo.
The Buckin’ for Heroes rodeo took place Saturday night at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall, and funds raised at the event are going to both Make-A-Wish Illinois and Lincoln Land Honor Flight, a not-for-profit organization that coordinates trips to Washington DC for military veterans in the area. Last year, the event raised about $14,000 for Make-A-Wish Illinois, Effingham DAV, Effingham VFW and Teutopolis American Legion Post 924.
This is the second time the rodeo has been held at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall, and Beth Funneman, the event’s lead organizer, said the turnout at this year’s event was significantly higher than last year. The rodeo used to be held at the Effingham County Fairgrounds in Altamont.
“It means that the community we live in is so generous, and they are willing to come out and spend their hard-earned money on supporting worthwhile organizations,” Funneman said Saturday. “I think it’s exciting.
“I think it’s important to educate the community on both organizations, what they do, why it’s a benefit and make them understand that their money is going to something worthwhile.”
Prior to the rodeo, Funneman invited several Make-A-Wish families to join her in the rodeo arena where they were recognized. Among these families was the family of Will Anderson, 6, of Beecher City who returned to the event Saturday after being surprised at last year’s rodeo with a trip to Hawaii.
“We’re just super thankful. This is just such an amazing event,” said Ally Anderson, Will Anderson’s mother. “I love that they added the honor flight. It means a lot to us, and I think it’s just great how we can spread it out between all kinds of heroes.”
While they’re in Hawaii, the Anderson family hopes to go snorkeling, attend a luau and visit Pearl Harbor. The trip is scheduled for Nov. of this year.
“I want to go on a water slide,” Will Anderson said.
Both Will Anderson and his 3-year-old brother, Wade Anderson, were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when they were born, and in 2021, Ally Anderson and Will Anderson’s father, Craig Anderson, started a foundation, God’s Will & Wade CF Foundation, that helps fund cystic fibrosis research and support for cystic fibrosis patients and their families.
“The second year we did our foundation and our event, we were second-third in the nation in fundraising,” Craig Anderson said. “It just exploded. If you go to St. Louis or other big cities, you don’t get that.”
Not only did Will Anderson get to watch the rodeo, he also got to compete in a mutton busting event, and he helped kick off the rodeo by leading the crowd in a prayer.
“I (check) could put into words how grateful we are for everybody in this community,” Ally Anderson said. “I feel like anything that’s for a good cause, this community just shows up.
“And the good thing about Make A Wish is it touches so many families.”
Also at the rodeo Saturday was the family of Megan Clark, 19, of Vandalia who had her wish to go to Disneyland granted by Make-A-Wish Illinois back in 2014. Clark has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, motor dysfunction and brain damage.
“Her wish was to be a princess, and she got to be a princess,” Justin Clark, Megan Clark’s brother, said. “But she’s been a princess her whole life.”
Justin Clark also said he enjoyed seeing so many people come together at the rodeo to support people like his sister and bring attention to a variety of illnesses and disabilities.
“It’s nice that they do something this exciting to bring so many people out, especially in a small town area,” he said. “It’s nice that everybody is more aware these days than they use to be.
“The world’s definitely changing for the better.”
Megan Clark’s twin brother, Nick Clark, also joined her at the rodeo. He said his family had a good time during their trip to Disneyland, and he, like Justin Clark, was happy to see such a large crowd at the event Saturday.
“It means everything,” Nick Clark said of the turnout at the rodeo. “I’m glad to see that there are so many people that actually care about the cause.”
Another Make-A-Wish family recognized during the event was the family of Athena Terrian, 13, of Paris who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in December of 2022. Athena Terrain attended the rodeo for the first time this weekend.
“I like it,” Athena Terrain said of the rodeo Saturday.
Athena Terrian recently had her wish to visit Hawaii granted, and she and her family plan to go there in about a week.
“We’re going snorkeling, swimming with dolphins and to a luau,” Athena Terrain said.
Athena Terrain’s mother, Sabrina Terrain, said she and her family had fun watching the rodeo Saturday, and she is also looking forward to her family’s upcoming trip to Hawaii. She noted that the trip will coincide with Athena Terrain’s birthday, which is on July 9.
“I think it’s amazing. It really is,” Sabrina Terrain said. “It’s one of the best organizations that I know of.”