Dear Bull Fighters,
I am sure you are used to people looking at you with stars in their eyes. You make a much larger impression than you can ever imagine! I just wanted to share your impact on one little girl.
My family was at the Colby Yates Challenge in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Lyndal Hurst told all of you about a special eight year old girl, my daughter, Tacey. Tacey started fighting cancer shortly after she was born. She lost one eye at the age of 9 months. Her other eye was removed a month before she turned 7 years old.
Tacey Raye is a wonderful child with a gift of living life to the fullest. Even though she is blind and battling cancer, she doesn't let any of it get her down. She continues to keep her positive attitude.
A week after she became blind, she rode her first horse. Since then, that love has blossomed to include rodeos and especially bull riding and bull fighting! She has a registered thoroughbred named, Hope Runs Deep. Tacey and Hope are learning Western Pleasure so they can participate in rodeos.
In September, Tacey is going to be crowned Wrangler's Miss Tough Enough to Wear Pink Four States Rodeo Queen. She will then start participating in many rodeos!
Your kindness to Tacey Saturday night after the rodeo means more than you can even imagine! She was so excited to get your autographs on Cole's jersey. She was so excited, it was after midnight before we got her settled down to go to sleep!!
Your kindness and generosity are priceless to Tacey and our family. Even though her battle has been difficult and tragic at times, it has also been the most incredible and uplifting experience! That is because of people like all of you who open your hearts to this little girl.
Lance, I don't know if you remember or don't remember saying you were going to marry her, but she definitely remembers it! I think she has already made the formal announcement. :-)
Thank you again for your kindness to Tacey. Words don't seem adequate to thank all of your for being such important components of bull riding, but also for being such great role models for young children!
You can learn more about Tacey and follow her rodeo, writing and speaking "careers" at her web sites:
http://taceyraye.mysite.com
http://throughtaceyseyes.faithweb.com
Sincerely,
Tammy Raulerson
~Michael, Tammy and Tacey Raulerson