“Humbling experience”: Hundreds show up for fundraiser benefiting beloved Central Texas man battling terminal cancer

(KWTX) - A beloved Central Texas man who raised millions of dollars for people in their darkest hours had the favor returned over the weekend as nearly a thousand people showed up for a fundraiser to benefit him and his family as he fights terminal cancer.

Wes Waller, 55, resisted the idea of a fundraiser to benefit his family, but the droves of people he’s helped wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

Wes is fighting stage four, renal cell carcinoma, or kidney cancer. He was diagnosed in 2015 and has undergone chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. He’s also had a kidney and a half removed, but doctors say he’s now exhausted all options as the cancer has moved to his partial kidney and his neck.

At his last appointment, he was told he has months to live.

“My doctor told me last week that my quivers are about out of arrows, but I told him, ‘no, it’s not,’” Wes said. “I have a lot of prayer and the mind is a powerful thing.”

Wes has quietly battled the cancer for years, always telling everyone “don’t ask me how I’m doing, just tell me that you’re praying.”

When word began to spread about his latest news, volunteers from across Central Texas began planning a benefit at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum on Waco Drive for the man usually on the other end of fundraising.

It sold out the first minutes after it was announced.

“I’m overwhelmed for my family and myself,” Wes told KWTX. “Walking into the room tonight was just such a humbling experience and we’re just so grateful. Words can’t describe the feeling I had tonight walking into the great room.”

The room was full of faces that have incredible stories of tragedy, grief, overcoming odds, health highs and lifetime lows, but their common thread is Waller.

Garth Goodwin attended. He’s the Waco firefighter who was paralyzed after falling from a billboard in McGregor while working off duty in 2017.

Wes helped organize a committee that built Goodwin a brand new, wheelchair-accessible home.

Wes was named an honorary Waco firefighter for his effort and Garth said his actions changed his life forever.

“We live in a beautiful, my friends call it the Taj Mahal, a beautiful home, completely mortgage free,” Goodwin said. “Wes got on the ball and got his contacts and completely did it from top to bottom. If it wasn’t for Wes Waller, we wouldn’t be in that home. I can’t even imagine where we would be without Wes.”

The story was the same for Bosqueville mother Jill Clements. Her son, Colter, a then 8-year-old, was hospitalized for nearly four months in 2022 after an unexpected brain bleed. Wes organized a benefit that helped the family with medical bills and expenses related to his brain injury.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be able to ever put into words what it meant to our family to come home and just to know that the medical resources and medical needs and appointments would all be covered. It just meant the world to our family and Wes will forever have a special place in our hearts and in Colter’s heart,” Clements said.

Madi Potts enjoyed the evening with her signature smile. She has Down syndrome and is part of No Limitations, a group that provides activities and sports for those with disabilities.

Wes helped organize a golf tournament which was the group’s most successful fundraiser to date.

Jimmy Bennett with the J-M-B Fishing Foundation was on hand to return the love Wes has always shown his organization.

Former Miss Waco Jamie Blanek, who Wes also helped, attended. Jamie lost her leg in an accident while stopping on the side of the road to assist a family who had been in a car wreck when someone else hit her.

Last year, JJ Williams, of Robinson, suffered a medical emergency while in Las Vegas and Wes organized a benefit for his family. His wife, Alicia, was part of the volunteer committee .

Thousands of dollars were raised at the “Big Bash for Big John” event for John Maldonado who is fighting the same kind of cancer as Wes. John attended Saturday night.

Barron Shoemaker’s parents were also there. Wes spearheaded a fundraiser for their son who needed a new heart.

Just weeks ago, while his own benefit was being planned, Wes helped with a fundraiser for Bryce Brown, the son of Sloppy Joe Band frontman Brian Brown, as Bryce awaits a new liver. Brian was the musical entertainment for the night.

In 2020, Central Texas lost a bright light in 6-year-old Layla Evetts from Riesel. Before she passed away from an inoperable brain tumor, Wes threw a “Gala for Layla” event that her dad, Corey, said raised $150,000 for his family.

“Just to come support Wes. He supported us in dark times, when we really needed some help, just some uplifting,” Corey said. “It was just awesome to be able to reciprocate and support him and love on him back the way he did for us five years ago.”

There was a silent auction that had a crowd bidding all night and a live auction with donated items that raised big bucks.

A blanket that was made from different fundraisers Wes organized, which represented more than $2.5 million in donations, was auctioned. It was given back and resold three times before making $42,000. The final winner donated the blanket to Wes.

Halton Reyna, a close friend of Waller’s, helped organize the event and said the turnout and response speaks to the character of Waller.

“Wes Waller, like you have always said, you have to make a positive impact in your community to have the results of a good fundraiser. Wes, you have made us proud for years and the lives you’ve touched is infinite,” she said. “The positive impact you have made on this community was shown last night as we had one of the most successful benefits to date.”

More than $350,000 was raised in the first four hours of the event.

Wes says he believes God gave him a gift of helping others and he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon with more benefits in the works.

Wes adds despite his prognosis, he’ll live by the motto he’s preached for years: “Keep Swinging.”

“It’s been a rough road and a winding road, and it’s a winding road that we’re still going to fight,” Wes said. “Mind over matter. I truly believe that the mind is a powerful thing. You know with strong faith and a strong mind nothing really matters to me.”

Wes is the father to three girls, stepfather to two girls and wife to Jae Waller.

He is employed at UBI Products and was the founder of the popular local select softball organization, Buzz.

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