Todd Hayes Benifit Raffel

The town of Duvall, Wash. – a dairy farming community tucked in the Cascade foothills, about 25 miles east of Seattle – is the kind of place that someone came up with the term "close-knit" to describe. And when one of their own comes down with a life-threatening disease, the townspeople aren’t the type to just shake their heads and wish there was something they could do.

Ask Todd Hayes, a 38-year-old native whose family roots run deep in this green, fertile valley that embraces the Snoqualmie River.

Since he was diagnosed a year ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a debilitating disorder of the nervous system more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Todd’s friends and neighbors have come together to give him their support and the best possible opportunity to win his fight.

First, they ministered to his mental well-being. Local small business owners Ed and Carol Trim, owners of the BackCounty Inc., a hunting equipment retailer in Duvall, arranged an elk hunting trip in Colorado for Todd, a lifelong outdoorsman. In addition to making arrangements with Elkhorn Outfitters for Todd, his uncle, Joe Pepper, and his lifelong friend, Bill Managlia, to take the trip, the Trims and Bill raised money from other townspeople and business associates.

On the second day of the trip, Todd bagged a bull with a single shot – fulfilling a lifelong dream. And on that same hunt Dick and Cheryl Dodds threw in a antelope tag at no extra charge. Todd was successful with a buck measuring 15 inches and a B&C score of 78.

Now, the people of Duvall are coming together again to help Todd in his fight against ALS. In an auction and raffle, they are raising funds to help him pay his mounting medical bills (his medical insurance has lapsed since he can no longer work), to maintain a vitamin treatment that seems to have slowed the progress of the disease and to work with some non-Western therapies that have proven beneficial.

While Todd is "family," there is more at work here than just some generous people pulling together to help one of their own. Todd Hayes is the kind of guy whose will to live is so strong that it makes those around him believe in miracles.

And they would like your help.

You can purchase raffle tickets at $20 apiece through BackCountry Inc. for a June 16, 2000 drawing in which the following items will be raffled off.
1st Prize King of the Mountain outfitt. pants, hat and shirt.
2nd Prize Nimrod Lumbar Pack
3rd Prize Set of Helly Hansen Rain Gear
4th Prize PitchWitch Hunter Kit
5th Prize T-Shirt Life's Short Hunt Hard

Todd will draw the tickets on Saturday June 17th and winners will be notified via phone or email. And winners will be posted on this site.

Or you can make a contribution to the Todd Hayes Foundation, with all proceeds going to pay Todd’s medical expenses.
Todd Hayes Foundation
C/O Wells Fargo Bank
Attn: Marilyn
460 Central
Kirkland WA 98033

Your help is gratefully appreciated by Todd, his wife Joyce, family and his many friends in Duvall!
Michel Brunker