Popular cowboy poet,
storyteller, and former working cowboy Dennis Gaines
has faced serious cancer battles in recent years. True to his wise and
positive spirit, he's combining educational and entertaining efforts in
A Cowboy for the Cure Tour.
Though Dennis has kept his
challenges mostly to himself in the past, he writes that after his third
diagnosis, "... one day it occurred to me that this whole issue is
bigger than I am, and perhaps I should heed the message...I made the
conscious decision to pursue this goal, and I believe it to be a worthy
one...I am looking at this as a grand adventure and a chance to do
something truly worthwhile with my life. I hope that I will be able to
raise a significant amount of money and at the same time help people to
understand that cancer does not have to be a death sentence. My mantra,
as it were—and I have made it my motto to take on the road with me—is
simple: "Find it, treat it. Fight it, beat it."
Dennis hopes to bring his
message to every county in Texas (all 254). If you can help with
A Cowboy for the Cure Tour, particularly in promotion and arranging venues, contact Dennis at (830)
896-5598 or by email.
An August, 2008
article by Carlina Villalpando in the
Kerrville Daily Times tells
Dennis Gaines' story:
Laughing in Spite of Cancer
By Carlina Villalpando
The Daily Times
Published August 2,
2008
No one likes to hear the C-word,
especially not from your own doctor, but cowboy entertainer Dennis
Gaines said hearing the word cancer ... three separate times, in fact
... has changed his perspective on life and given him new vision for
the future.
As a longtime
comedic entertainer and storyteller, Gaines has taken his personal
experiences with cancer and woven them into his comic routine,
creating an inspirational message that he said not only is
entertaining, but should promote awareness of the necessity of
frequent doctor’s visits and early detection.
Still recovering
from prostate cancer, Gaines said he is waiting for his doctor’s
official release before he gets the show on the road, traveling to
every Texas county to perform. In the meantime, he is busy booking
shows and making contacts across the state, arranging to perform
anywhere folks will have him.
“I’m going to take
it everywhere, south to north, east to west,” Gaines said. “That is my
plan. This will be my entire professional focus.”
Gaines said
he always has enjoyed performing, but now, he’ll do it with renewed
purpose, after battling skin cancer, head and neck cancer, and most
recently, prostate cancer. The first diagnosis, he said, wasn’t a
complete surprise, but the second and third, he said where shocking
and woke him up to the need for prevention and early detection.
“I consider
myself fortunate, even blessed,” Gaines said. “Having cancer has
opened my eyes. I came up with (this) idea to give something back, and
I have decided to focus my efforts on this new goal.”
He hopes his
Texas-wide tour will take him through rural areas, giving him the
opportunity to speak to people who might not be apt to get frequent
checkups or are reluctant to see doctors — especially men.
Gaines is
tall, strong and looks as if he’s just stepped out of the old West,
wearing a cowboy hat, boots and suspenders. His easygoing personality
also puts people at ease, making him an effective spokesman in rural
communities.
“There are
254 counties in the state of Texas, and I intend to present a
performance of cowboy storytelling and a message of hope and
inspiration in every one of them,” Gaines said. “Early detection and
awareness has literally saved my life, and I want as many people as I
can reach to understand the importance of these, and the resources
available to them.”
Gaines said
he has been in contact with the American Cancer Society and intends to
donate a portion of his proceeds from the speaking events to them for
research.
He currently
is in the process of booking engagements across Texas and is eager to
talk to people who would like to have him come speak. For information
on the tour, call 830-896-5598 or e-mail
cowboydg@ktc.com. "I may not
ever raise the kind of money that Lance Armstrong can, but I’ll give
it the old cowboy try. I can’t do it all, but I can do my part.”
© 2008,
Kerrville Daily Times;
reprinted with permission
Read more about Dennis
Gaines and some of his poetry in our feature
here.
Thanks
to Linda Kirkpatrick
for help with this feature.
