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Utah rodeo champion battles cancer; friends set up fundraiser to help with medical bills

Posted at 9:59 PM, Dec 29, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-30 09:54:55-05

PROVO, Utah -- Lewis Feild is one of the biggest names in rodeo to ever come out of Utah.

In his day he was the Michael Jordan of the sport. There wasn't a bareback or saddle bronc he couldn't ride.

But now, the former world champ is facing the toughest battle of his life, as he fights stage four pancreatic cancer.

"My dad, he's one of the strongest men that I know, mentally and physically,” said Feild’s son, Kaycee Feild Tuesday. “His mental power and how he sets his mind when he's ready to compete is like I've never seen before."

Kaycee Feild has followed in his father’s footsteps, winning four bareback world championships in a row.

That toughness is why the Feilds believe Lewis will beat the odds. He's lost a little weight due to chemotherapy treatments, but Lewis Feild’s mind is in a good place.

"He gets up every morning with a positive attitude, and he goes out and gets things done throughout the day," Kaycee Feild said.

But medical bills are stacking up. So, Feild family friend JD Deveraux is helping organize a team roping event and auction set for New Year's Eve at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds in Heber.

"We just had an idea to help raise some money for Lewis and help him and Veronica out, and we just wanted to be able to do what we could," Deveraux said.

Items for auction include:

Stud services; a variety of firearms; guided hunting tours in Montana, Idaho and New Zealand; saddles; artwork; roping chute and a Polaris ranger.

All of the funds will go to the Lewis Feild family.

"It shows to me how great the sport of rodeo really is. There's so many great people with big hearts and all they want to do is help people," Kaycee Feild said.

Information about the auction can be found at buckcancers.com.