Valley Rural Electric Cooperative will host its 14th annual benefit golf outing Thursday, June 19 at the Huntingdon Country Club, 10305 Raystown Road, Huntingdon. All of Valley's offices will be closed that day as employees lend a hand for the event. Started by Valley REC's employee health and wellness committee in 2012, the event has raised almost $415,000 for beneficiaries since its inception. This year's tournament will benefit five area residents: Jett Ickes, Blake Reed, Theodore Joseph Hess-Garcia, Dalana Snyder, and Crissy Kyle.
Beneficiaries
Jett Ickes
Jett Ickes was born in November almost three months prematurely and has required a breathing tube since birth. He’s spent his first months of life in a neonatal intensive care unit battling infections. Despite his rough start, he has tripled in size; and his parents, Jared and Madyson Ickes of Altoona, are hopeful of him being weaned from a ventilator and improving.
Blake Reed
Aaron and Cierra Reed of Altoona say their infant son, Blake, has bright eyes and a beautiful smile despite facing multiple health challenges. He was born in October with down syndrome and several heart defects requiring surgery. He also requires tubes for feeding and medicine. He’s had lengthy hospital stays, but the Reed family says he’s fighting to be home.
Theodore Joseph Hess-Garcia
One-year-old Theodore Joseph Hess-Garcia is the son of Collin Hess and Isabel Garcia-Fernandez of Waterfall. Theo was born with an airway disorder that requires him to use a ventilator and a feeding tube. He has a brain condition that led to epilepsy, and he will need hip surgery later this year. Though he will require lifelong care, Theo’s family is hopeful about his prognosis.
Dalana Snyder
Dalana Snyder, 18, is a senior at Mount Union Area High School (graduating in June 2025). She is the daughter of Dale Hamman and Robin Snyder of McVeytown. In April 2024 she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after bleeding complications from tonsil/adenoid surgery. Dalana developed multiple infections through her first four rounds of chemo, but thankfully the cancer is in remission. She is taking a chemotherapy pill all this year and still must make many trips to doctors in Lewistown and Danville.
Crissy Kyle
Crissy Kyle is a loving wife and mother. She and her husband, Andy, of Huntingdon, are the parents of two young children. Crissy was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After surgery early this year, further treatment will be determined. Crissy is fondly known as “Mrs. Kyle” by her students at Standing Stone Elementary School.
For details about the golf outing and how to register or participate as a sponsor or donor, visit the Golf Outing page.