Raccoon hunting for a good cause

By Ben Woods
bwoods@casscountynow.com 

With a mission of hope for what seemed like an impossible situation, one northeast Texas man began a benefit with his daughter in mind.
Dexter Whatley’s daughter Lora Whatley was given a heartbreaking diagnosis of cystic fibrosis when she was 18 months old.
Dexter Whatley was spurred to action. In 1984, along with family friends, he started the 4-States Cystic Fibrosis Coon Hunters Association in search of help for his daughter. The association’s sole purpose is to raise money for research for a cure.
Over the past 32 years, the event has raised over $700,000 and is now the longest consecutive  cystic fibrosis benefit in Texas. This year’s event gets underway later this week.
“Each year since our event was started, I have met another family with a child that has cystic fibrosis,” Dexter said.
When Dexter first contacted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and told them he was planning on using a coon hunt as a fundraiser, they laughed at him, he said. After the first year’s event raised $3,300, he said they never laughed at him again. 
All money raised during the event is given to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and only what is needed for start-up funds for the next year’s event is put aside. 
Sponsors and donations pour in from all over the region. In the past year, there were around 160 dogs entered.
“This is a family-based event -- there is no alcohol, smoking or guns allowed at the events,” said Dexter.
Dogs and hunters come from all over the United States and even Canada. A majority of the money raised is from the sale of food, and an auction on Saturday, March 4.
The menu has many items including BBQ plates, hamburger plates, Frito pie and the uniquely named “Coon Fries”. The specialties are the ribs and briskets. The kitchen opens to the public March 3 at 11 a.m. -- but to-go orders begin at 8 a.m.
The location is: Highway 59 N. past Wal-Mart, Cass County Cattlemen’s Barn (behind Novatron). For complete information, visit the association online at www.4statescfcoonhunters.com.
There are hunts March 2-4 with trophy belt buckles awarded. The overall champion is decided by a combined score. Dog bench shows and a free kids non-licensed dog show are also on the schedule.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestines. 
Long-term issues develop from buildup of mucus in the lungs, which makes it difficult for patients to breath and may result in respiratory infections.  
Cardiorespiratory complications are the most common cause of death (about 80 percent) in cystic fibrosis patients in the United States. Cystic fibrosis is a difficult disease to manage with no known cure and the life expectancy of patients is around 40 years. 
“One in 20 people carry the recessive gene of cystic fibrosis and if the math was to line up right, that could be epidemic -- but by virtue of statistics it doesn’t,” Dexter said. 
There is a genetic test to determine if a person is a carrier of the recessive gene for cystic fibrosis.