Antivenin project fundraising event coming up

One little girl’s death more than 7 years ago, spurred a cause to save others from a similar fate.

Peyton Hood was less than a month away from her second birthday on August 10, 2010 when she was bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake while playing on a swing set at the family cabin at Possum Kingdom.

Her aunt, Tammy Reece, launched Peyton's Project to raise rattlesnake awareness as well as to provide costly yet lifesaving antivenin to rural hospitals including Faith Community Hospital which otherwise could not afford to keep it on hand.

Peyton’s Project provides six vials each to nine rural medical facilities in the cities of Electra, Seymour, Jacksboro, Graham, Nocona, Henrietta, Olney, Vernon and Quanah. 

Peyton’s Project antivenin program launched in May 2016 and to-date, 23 people have been served.

The awareness program began in 2014 and has served several thousands more. Peyton’s Project speakers visit schools, work sites and organization offering programs tailored to each group on identifying venomous snakes, avoidance, what to do if one is encountered or what to do if bitten.

To keep all of their programs going takes the support of the communities Peyton’s Project serves. One way to do that is to attend the upcoming fourth annual Peyton’s Project Spurs and Pearls event.

This year’s event will be hosted Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Rock Barn at 100 E Wichita St., Henrietta.

The entertainment this year will be provided by Tim Nichols, 2017 Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee.

The evening includes a full rib dinner catered by Kerr Cattle Cooks and an open whiskey, wine and beer bar. There are five raffle items to win including a George Strait autographed guitar, Texas Rangers baseball four-pack (Section 36, Row 13, Seats 12-15) complete with one reserved parking pass and Nokona baseball glove, custom-made Olsen Stelzer boots, Nokona baseball glove plus $100 Academy gift card and $100 Walmart gift card, and 50 person rib dinner by Kerr Cattle Cooks. 

The cost is $250 per individual or $2,250 for a table of ten. Raffle tickets are $100 each. 

Tickets are available to purchase online at www.peytonsprojectevents.ticketbud.com/2018. Space is limited and tickets are available for advanced purchase only.

For more information on Peyton’s Project or events call 940-232-7882.

To read the complete article, see the Jan. 19 edition of the Herald-Gazette.