“Ridin’ for Racca” Benefit Draws Huge Crowd

By Gloria Way

  Hundreds of people gathered at the Winnie-Stowell Community Building this past Saturday to show their support for Winnie native Scott Racca. Racca was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and the proceeds from the benefit will help pay medical bills.

  Close to 600 lunches of pulled pork sandwiches cooked by Skipper Hamilton were sold. The silent auction contained about 100 items from backpacks to cookbooks to knives to blankets to coolers to everything under the sun. The 30-item live auction was “action packed” with bidding on different hunts. The Nilgai hunt donated by Charlie Easley was very competitive and the winning bid was $7,100.00.

  And the crowd was surprised by the appearance of 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel.  DJ is battling incurable brain cancer. He has defied the odds after doctors gave him five months at most to live when he received a brain cancer diagnosis in 2018. DJ received national recognition when the US Secret Service presented him with an honorary Secret Service badge at the request of President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address earlier this year. DJ has always dreamed of being a law enforcement officer and several agencies have presented him with honorary membership including Chambers County Sheriff’s Office.

  Saturday afternoon DJ and his father were on their way back to Houston when the Tesla given to him by Elon Musk ran out of charge in Winnie. County Line Diesel’s Kevin and Kelly Toups picked them up to charge the car. DJ’s dad asked Kelly what was there to do in Winnie for an hour or so while the vehicle charged, and Kelly told them that a huge fundraiser was going on for Scott who was also battling cancer. The Toups took DJ and his father to the benefit, and everyone was delighted to see him.

  All in all, the benefit was wildly successful. Racca, who is usually the one helping set up benefits for others, was humbled by the show of support. “I am truly overwhelmed,” said Racca. “My family and I are so appreciative and full of gratitude. Thank you all for showing up and to all the volunteers who made this happen.”