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The Home Run Derby for Peyton, masterminded and coordinated by fifth-grade power duo Mason Lovingood and Ralston Hogsed, transpired successfully Saturday, the sunny first day of March, at Konehete Veterans Park.
The medical fundraiser raised more than $10,000 for the Mixon family.
The winners of the competition – Blake Ritz in first place, Aaron Patton in second place and Justin Coker in third place – all turned around and donated their prize money to the Mixon family. Cash prizes were donated by Art Amos, Mickie Amos, and Kristin and Wesley Dowdy.
Local resident Peyton Mixon, who turns 2 in April, is suffering from GM1 Gangliosidosis, an extremely rare aggressive disease that progresses quickly in infants. Affecting only one in 100,000-200,000 people in the world, it causes a buildup of molecules in tissue and organs, which causes irreversible damage to the brain and spinal cord. At this time there is no cure, but there are clinical trials to which parents Zach and Jordan Mixon are actively working to get Peyton admitted.
Purple reigned
Arcs of flags for measuring distance were placed in the outfield the day before, like unexpected daffodils. The boys oversaw the registration process and were smartly dressed in event coordinator shirts and matching purple athletic shoes.
As a matter of fact, purple reigned as the color of the day. Adult helpers wore solid, long-sleeve purple shirts, and the official logo used for the participant T-shirts incorporated purple.
The unexpectedly high number of registrants – which included the Murphy High School baseball team, children from Robbinsville, as well as people from Clay and Union (Ga.) counties – required that the time limit for each participant be shortened to ensure everyone got a chance to play.
Peyton Mixon herself wasn’t able to attend the event because she is still recovering from surgery. Zach Mixon’s parents, Peyton’s grandparents, stayed with her in the hospital so Zach, Jordan and Preslee could attend.
The boys announced at the beginning of the derby that they were motivated to hold the event because they considered Peyton to be the strongest and bravest little girl ever.
Everyone helped
Mark Muir and Bobby Burns each helped with pitching machine matters.
After several weeks of making shirts and signs, Brittany Davis spent the Saturday event registering players and keeping score.
Kaylon Hicks procured food donations from Julie’s Place, Yogi’s and Downtown Pizza, then helped the little girls work the concession stand all day.
Hadley Hogsed, Ralston’s 8-year-old sister, worked Friday evening and all day Saturday to make sure everything ran smoothly. Stella Campana, also 8 years old, assisted Hadley in the concession stand.
Kenzley Green, 8, and Austin Davis, 7, ran a lemonade stand with help from Kenzley’s parents, Kristen and Josh Green.
Eli Watson, who is 11 years old, helped Mason and Ralston with everything they did to set up Friday and Saturday.
Jason Hughes handled every aspect of hot dog production.
Mason’s 8-year-old brother, Carson Lovingood, enlisted some friends his age to help. The crew, which included Hawkins Coker, Miles Wood and Easton Hicks, helped any where help was needed, from setting up the field to helping with food prep.
Grammy Dawn and Mamaw Pat provided delicious desserts, while Mammy Cindy helped set up balloons.
Caesar and Lindsay Campana helped out wherever they were needed. Justin and Kelci Coker helped with field set up and concessions. The sound system was provided by Bill Grove, who was able to stay later than anticipated.
Working the microphone throughout the day, Braden Rumfelt provided plenty of cheerful commentary. Payton McCracken showed up for the boys and, as promised, they brought as many people as he could.
On Sunday, after the dust had cleared and the park was restored to its normal role. Ralston and Mason’s parents and grandparents made a statement thanking the community for “supporting our children in their efforts to support the Mixon family. Yesterday would not have been possible without your support.”
Mason and Ralston ask that you continue to pray for Peyton.
Peyton’s story
During the first year of Peyton’s life, Jordan and Zach noticed that she was getting very sick after normally mild illnesses and missing developmental milestones. After relentlessly seeking answers from doctors, bloodwork, testing and imaging, Peyton Claire then received a diagnosis of GM1Gangliosidosis.
While this is devastating news for the whole Mixon family, they want to give Peyton as happy and normal a life as possible. Because of Peyton’s need for full-time care, Jordan will not be returning to work full time. In addition to the change in our family’s circumstances, continuing cost of medical care, physical and occupational therapy, and adaptive equipment, the clinical trial is almost prohibitively expensive should Peyton even be admitted.
If you feel led to donate, the family’s GoFundMe account is linked below. If you cannot donate, please share this page, share the GoFundMe link and continue to pray for the entire family as they embark on this new journey.
Jordan has posted before that they “know that God has a plan for Peyton and for us as her parents. He chose us specifically for her and if it is His will, He will heal her. He will use her as He sees fit, and we must be faithful and trust in Him. Before she was ours, she was His.”
Details: Visit gofundme.com/f/help-baby-peyton-fight-gm1-gangliosidosis.