Gunner’s Journey

09/02/2026

Gun is so close to hitting his second goal of raising 5k for St. Jude! 💙

💙🙏 Gunner is almost there! 🙏💙

He has now raised $4,264.52 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is closing in on his second goal of $5,000!

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has donated, shared, prayed, bought lemonade or shirts, and helped spread the word. Every single one of you has made a difference.

These donations are more than a number — they represent hope for children and families walking through St. Jude.

If you’ve been thinking about donating or sharing Gunner’s page, now is a great time to help push him across that $5,000 mark.

💙 $4,264.52 and climbing… let’s go, Gunner’s Army!

Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone.



https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8851273&fr_id=164557&pg=personal&fbclid=IwdGRjcAT9s2NwZG9mAWZkaWQWUNUsJewviiTWgYCuPDuSTRfS2M8ZUGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6nDYGIljxfFJ7TUKx59wP7BEwkZlf7zUkdJ0aid0mrh4smWGK6fQbFGpDK1g_aem_2_zjCotTsE39vmIj3QtfJg

08/28/2026

💙🙏 Gunner is almost there! 🙏💙

He has now raised $4,264.52 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is closing in on his second goal of $5,000!

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has donated, shared, prayed, bought lemonade or shirts, and helped spread the word. Every single one of you has made a difference.

These donations are more than a number — they represent hope for children and families walking through St. Jude.

If you’ve been thinking about donating or sharing Gunner’s page, now is a great time to help push him across that $5,000 mark.

💙 $4,264.52 and climbing… let’s go, Gunner’s Army!

Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone.



https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8851273&fr_id=164557&pg=personal&fbclid=IwdGRjcAT9s2NwZG9mAWZkaWQWUNUsJewviiTWgYCuPDuSTRfS2M8ZUGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6nDYGIljxfFJ7TUKx59wP7BEwkZlf7zUkdJ0aid0mrh4smWGK6fQbFGpDK1g_aem_2_zjCotTsE39vmIj3QtfJg

08/25/2026

https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?pg=personal&px=8851273&fr_id=164557

Since Gunner hit his first goal, he’s on to his second. The walk is September 12 and he’s trying to be in the top ten! 💙 He’s soooo close! If you’d like to help Gun out, you can donate to this link. Thank you everyone for your love and support for our boy! 💙

In September, supporters in communities across the country will participate in the St. Jude Walk. This exciting, family-friendly event helps raise funds to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

08/23/2026

We are beyond excited—and still a little overwhelmed—to say that Gunner is officially an author! What began as one brave little boy’s journey is becoming a story that we pray will bring hope, courage, and faith to others.

Cowgirl Peg, we cannot thank you enough for believing in Gunner and feeling called to help tell his story. We truly believe God placed you in our lives for a reason, and we are honored to take this journey with you.

We’re also looking forward to walking alongside you at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Texas Benefit 5K on September 12! This is only the beginning of Gunner’s Journey, and we cannot wait to see where God leads it. 💙🙏

Gunner is now officially an author! I filed his copyright papers and we're on the way with "Gunner's Journey". I am so honored to take on this project with him. Sept. 12th is our St Jude's Benefit 5K trek and I'm looking forward to it.

08/21/2026

Keep those prayers coming!!!!

🔬 Could this lead to a new way to treat Friedreich’s ataxia?

A new study found that targeting certain enzymes increased frataxin levels and improved signs of FA in cell and mouse models.

While more research is needed, the findings could point to a promising new treatment approach.

🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/45vyrpw

08/16/2026

🙏💙🍋 GOD IS GOOD — AND GUNNER’S ARMY SHOWED UP. 🍋💙🙏

Because of YOU, Gunner’s Lemonade Day raised MORE THAN $3,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ❤️🙌

And even now, people are still reaching out asking how they can contribute.

We have tried to find the right words to explain what that means to our family, and the truth is… “thank you” simply does not feel big enough.

Because you gave far more than your time.

You gave far more than your money.

You gave HOPE. 🙏💙

You gave hope to children fighting battles they never asked for.

You gave hope to parents who are exhausted, scared, searching for answers, and doing everything they can for their child.

You gave hope to families walking their own difficult journeys through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — families who may never know your name, but who are being reminded because of people like you that they do not have to face those battles alone.

Whether you stopped by for a glass of lemonade… 🍋
Made a donation… ❤️
Purchased a shirt… 👕
Shared one of our posts… 📲
Told a friend…
Helped behind the scenes…
Prayed for Gunner and these families… 🙏
Or simply offered a word of encouragement…

YOU played a part in this.

YOU made a difference.

And we hope you truly understand that.

💙 A very special THANK YOU also goes to Dream Teams - Spirit Shop. 💙

Dream Teams did so much more than simply make shirts. They embraced Gunner, his mission, and what this day was about.

When we saw the finished Sips for St. Jude shirts, we were absolutely blown away by how stunning they turned out. But even more meaningful was the generosity, kindness, and support Dream Teams showed our son.

Thank you, Dream Teams, for believing in Gunner and helping bring his vision to life. 👕🍋❤️

We also want to clarify something very important.

The more than $3,000 raised for St. Jude does NOT include the donations collected for the Cooper family.

Following the heartbreaking loss of Ryne Cooper, people stepped forward in an incredible way to surround his family with love and support.

Out of respect for Ryne, his wife, his children, and everyone who loved him, we will not be sharing that amount publicly.

But we will say this:

It was an impressive amount, and we were deeply moved by the generosity shown to the Cooper family. ❤️🙏

That part of the day carries a very special meaning for us.

Ryne stood beside Gunner when our son needed an Army.

And when Ryne’s family needed that same Army…

YOU stood beside them.

That is Gunner’s Army. 💙

And that is what Never Alone truly means.

Gunner’s Army has never been about a logo, a page, or simply supporting one little boy.

It is about making a promise to one another:

When life becomes heavy, you do not have to carry it alone.

It means standing beside Gunner as he fights Friedreich’s Ataxia.

It means standing beside children and families at St. Jude Children’s Research as they face some of the hardest days of their lives.

It means standing beside the Cooper family as they grieve the loss of Ryne.

It means celebrating together.

Grieving together.

Praying together.

Helping one another.

And reminding each other that even in the darkest moments…

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. 💙🙏

That is what made this so much bigger than lemonade.

As Gunner’s parents, we cannot begin to express how proud we are of him or how grateful we are for every person who has embraced our son, prayed for him, encouraged him, and believed in what he is trying to accomplish.

We believe with all our hearts that God places people in our lives for a reason.

And sometimes He takes something incredibly simple and uses it to accomplish something far greater than we ever could have imagined.

A table.

Some lemonade. 🍋

A little boy with a very big heart.

An Army willing to answer the call.

And a God capable of doing infinitely more with it than we ever imagined.

Look what God did. 🙏❤️

More than $3,000 for St. Jude.

An incredible outpouring of love for Ryne Cooper’s family.

Hope given to children and parents who desperately need it.

A community brought together.

And a little boy reminded once again that his Army is very, very real. 💪💙

From the bottom of our hearts:

THANK YOU.

Thank you for giving.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for praying.
Thank you for remembering Ryne.
Thank you for supporting St. Jude.
Thank you for loving the Cooper family.
Thank you for believing in Gunner.

But above all…

Thank you for giving HOPE.

Because of you, children and families were reminded that someone cares.

Because of you, Ryne’s family was reminded that an Army is standing beside them.

Because of you, Gunner saw what can happen when people come together through faith, compassion, and love.

And because of YOU… WE MADE A DIFFERENCE. 💙🍋🙏

“With God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26

We witnessed that truth.

We are humbled.

We are blessed.

We are amazed.

And we will be forever grateful.

💙 Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone. 💙

08/15/2026

🍋💙 From the bottom of our hearts… THANK YOU. 💙🍋

We honestly don’t know that we have the words tonight to fully express how grateful we are for everyone who showed up, donated, shared, supported us online, bought shirts, encouraged Gunner, and helped make Gunner’s Lemonade Day such an incredible success.

The generosity shown toward Gunner and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was amazing.

But just as meaningful was the overwhelming love and support shown for Ryne’s family. Seeing so many people step forward to honor him and help his family meant more than we can possibly say. That was something very special to witness today. 🙏💙

And we want every single person who supported this event to understand something:

❤️ YOU made a difference today. ❤️

Whether you stopped by for a glass of lemonade, donated online, bought a shirt, gave to Ryne’s family, shared one of our posts, prayed for these families, or simply helped spread the word — YOU were part of something meaningful today.

You helped support children receiving care at St. Jude.
You helped lift up a family walking through an unimaginable loss.
You showed Gunner that people believe in him and in what he is trying to accomplish.

YOU made a difference. 🍋💙

Right now, our brains are pretty well cooked from the heat ☀️🥵, so we are going to wait until tomorrow to carefully count and verify everything so we can make sure the totals are accurate. But from what we can tell tonight… this event did VERY well. 🍋🙌

And apparently, everyone has already decided this can’t be a one-time thing. 😂

There has already been plenty of talk about next year’s Lemonade Day, along with numerous requests that we either find a LOT more shade… or just move the whole thing indoors! 😅☀️

We’ve also heard another idea today that really caught our attention — possibly creating a special event around Friedreich’s Ataxia Day in Texas on February 8th. 💙

Who knows where all of this may lead, but one thing is certain:

Today reminded us just how many incredible people are standing beside our son.

We are truly honored, humbled, and amazed by the amount of love and support shown today. What started with a young boy wanting to sell lemonade and help other children has grown into something our family never could have imagined.

To every person who stopped by…
To everyone who donated online…
To everyone who bought a shirt through Dream Teams - Spirit Shop
To everyone who donated to Ryne’s family…
To everyone who helped behind the scenes…
To everyone who prayed, shared, encouraged, or simply showed Gunner some love…

THANK YOU. ❤️

You didn’t just attend an event today.

You became part of the reason it mattered.

You made today something our family will never forget, and you showed Gunner once again that Gunner’s Army is very, very real. 💪💙

God has blessed our family with some truly amazing people, and tonight we are simply overwhelmed with gratitude.

🙏 God is good.

Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone.

08/15/2026

🍋💙 Today is Gunner’s Lemonade Day — a day filled with hope, generosity, and love. But there is one member of Gunner’s Army we simply cannot go through this day without remembering.

Ryne Cooper was a supporter of our son and a proud member of Gunner’s Army. He believed in Gunner, encouraged him, and showed our family kindness that we will never forget.

Ryne was taken from this world far too soon, leaving behind his wife and two young boys. Today, while we celebrate all of the good surrounding Gunner’s Lemonade Day, our hearts are also with Ryne’s family. 🙏

When we were preparing for today, Gunner made a special request of his own:

🍋 He wants one glass of lemonade left sitting on the table for Ryne.

Not for sale.
Not to be handed out.
Just one glass waiting there in honor of a member of his Army who should still be here.

That glass will be Ryne’s. 💙

Today we will, of course, continue raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the incredible work they do for children and families.

But if you can find it in your heart to give a little more, we will also be accepting donations for Ryne’s family. Every dollar collected for them will go directly toward helping the family he loved so dearly.

This day has always been about more than lemonade. It is about people helping people, families standing beside families, and showing others that they do not walk through the hardest moments of life alone.

Today, Gunner’s Army stands with Macy, Reed, Rory, and everyone who loved Ryne. 🇺🇸🙏

And somewhere on that lemonade table will be one untouched glass reminding us of a good man, a devoted husband and father, a lineman, and a member of Gunner’s Army who will never be forgotten.

💙 This one’s for you, Ryne. 🍋

May God continue to wrap His arms around Ryne’s family and give them strength, comfort, and peace in the days ahead.

Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone.

08/14/2026

🍋💙 We are so excited to see everyone TOMORROW for Gunner’s Lemonade Day! 💙🍋

The love and support surrounding this event has been more than our family could have ever imagined. We have been absolutely blown away by the response, and we are forever grateful for every person who has supported Gunner, this cause, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ❤️🙏

👕✨ We are also excited to share that the Gunner’s Journey “Sips for St. Jude” shirts are AVAILABLE NOW through Gunner’s merchandise shop, thanks to the amazing people at Dream Teams - Spirit Shop!

And we have to say… we were absolutely blown away by how stunning these shirts turned out! They did an incredible job bringing this design to life, and seeing Gunner’s Journey represented this way means so much to our family. 🍋💙

As Gunner’s parents, we truly cannot be any more proud of him. Watching our son use his own journey to help other children and families is something that is hard to even put into words. It is humbling, inspiring, and such a blessing to watch. 🙏💙

What started as a lemonade stand has become something so much bigger — a community coming together around a young man who simply wants to make a difference. 🍋✨

For those of you who are able to attend, we are looking forward to seeing you TOMORROW! 💙🍋

And for those who aren’t able to make it, you can still be part of Gunner’s mission. ❤️

👕 Purchase one of the new Sips for St. Jude shirts through his merchandise shop.

📲 Or make a donation through Venmo using the attached QR code.

Every shirt purchased, every donation made, every post shared, every prayer prayed, and every word of encouragement helps support this mission and reminds Gunner that he is surrounded by an incredible army of people standing beside him. 💙🙏

We simply cannot thank everyone enough. The response to this event has exceeded anything we ever imagined, and our family is truly humbled by the number of people who have stepped forward to support Gunner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Texas, and children’s research.

Through every challenge, every blessing, and every person God has placed in Gunner’s path, we are reminded again and again:

🙏 God is good. His timing is perfect. And with Him, all things are possible. 🙏

Thank you for standing beside our son. 💙
Thank you for believing in his mission. 🍋
Thank you for supporting St. Jude. ❤️
And thank you for continuing to grow Gunner’s Army. 💪💙

Hope Strong. Faith Driven. Never Alone.

05/18/2026

FA is not something you simply explain to your child — it becomes a journey you learn to understand together, one day at a time. Be honest with them. Be open with them. Don’t hide the hard moments, because sometimes the very child you are trying to protect will become the source of your greatest strength and courage.

Hold tightly to your faith, always keep God at the center of the journey, and never let go of hope. Even in the hardest seasons, God can provide peace, purpose, and strength beyond what we could ever carry alone. Hope does not mean the road is easy — it means we trust that God walks beside us through every step of it.

How have you explained Friedreich’s ataxia to children in your life? https://bit.ly/3UFQynd