LAHARPE — As long-time members of the pony pull circuit, LaHarpe’s Tim and Dana Vest found a fun, and often quite effective, way to give a helping hand to a friend in need.
They count at least seven such benefit pony pulls they’ve either hosted or helped organize for someone, most often to help with medical expenses.
“It was just a way to do what we could,” Dana said.
But this time, the shoe was on the other foot.
After first politely declining offers of help from their friends, the Vests reluctantly agreed to a pony pull last weekend on their property at the east edge of LaHarpe.
The proceeds are going to Tim, who was diagnosed in March with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma.
Twenty teams from across Kansas and Missouri took part, with a silent auction and other donations still arriving by the day
“I never thought we’d have one for us,” Dana said.
In fact, she first politely declined when asked to help with the silent auction.
Her friends persisted. “We’re doing it, anyway,” they declared.
It didn’t take Dana long to be happy she relented.
“It was a great day,” she said. “I’m glad we got to see everybody.”
The biggest benefit?
Trent Vest, Tim’s son, won the pony pull.
“I was so busy Saturday, I didn’t get to watch, but I knew he was right up there with the best of them,” Dana said. “I was so excited. Other than his dad winning, I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect day.”
TIM, 57, works in the service department at Twin Motors Ford in Iola.
And he had a rough year, long before the cancer diagnosis.
He was working with a horse last September, when the animal wrenched his shoulder, which tore his rotator cuff and ripped his arm’s bicep.
