Mason Lowe memory preserved in plaque at St. Jude Children’s
PBR raised, presented $15,000 in Lowe’s name
Pictured above, Blazi Lowe gets a first look at the plaque with her late uncle Mason Lowe’s name on it while family members and PBR representatives gather around her. From left to right: Cody Nance, PBR bull rider; Melissa Whisenhunt, Blazi’s grandmother; Jerry Whisenhunt, Blazi’s grandfather; Blazi Lowe; Tye Chandler, PBR bull rider; and Kayla Lowe, Blazi’s mother.
February 26, 2020
Caden Swearingen
For Exeter's Blazi Lowe, the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor shook her family. However, her uncle and well-known professional bull rider Mason Lowe was one of her biggest supporters through it all. Following Mason's untimely death, the PBR stepped in, raising money in honor of both Mason and Blazi, and that donation of $15,000 was presented to St. Jude Children's Hospital recently.
Mason Lowe tragically died from complications related to a bull riding accident in Denver, Colo., on January 15, 2019. Four months later, a PBR bull riding event was hosted in Cassville and eventually, they raised $15,000 in his name.
Stu Crowe, of Cassville, is one of two individuals who organized the inaugural Ridin' with Mason Lowe PBR event. Crowe and Cindy O'Neall, who both have ties to PBR, decided to put the event together, and it wasn't hard for them to get PBR on board with the idea. The event was held on May 11, 2019. They thought it was a good way to honor the memory of Mason, support a good cause and to help kids just like Blazi. The event featured around 40 riders and 50 bulls. There was estimated attendance of around 3,000 people, which helped accumulate the impressive total.
On June 24, 2019, the Ridin' with Mason Lowe team had the honor of going to St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., to make the donation, and the plaque honoring the donation was put up at the children's hospital on February 14, 2020.
The Lowe family attended, showing respect for Mason and also honoring Blazi's courageous fight. Blazi Lowe was a normal five-year-old from Exeter prior to her diagnosis. She had just started kindergarten when she got sick. Blazi's grandmother Melissa Whisenhunt thought it was just an illness going around in the family.
Whisenhunt said, "On Friday [August 21], the baby-sitter called and said Blazi was crying because she had a headache and was throwing up. When I called the clinic, they said take her to Springfield immediately."
Once there, blood tests and a CAT scan were completed, and the family received the devastating news: Blazi had a brain tumor. The last four years had lots of ups and downs, but Blazi is now 10 years old.
Blazi has had four brain surgeries, one in Springfield and three in Memphis. She underwent one round of brain radiation, immunotherapy, and lastly a full brain and spine proton radiation. Blazi is doing as well as she can be expected given the circumstances. She still undergoes both physical and occupational therapy twice a week due to a massive stroke after the first surgery and all the residual effect from the treatments.
Mason was 25 when he passed away on January 15, 2019, after suffering injuries during a ride in Denver. Lowe, who competed professionally for the seven years prior to his death, was ranked 18th in the world. He ranked as high as 11th during his career.
Crowe said, "I'd known him since he was a little boy. When he was kid, it didn't take a lot to make him happy. He was always in a good mood."
He added, "Mason was just a small town guy, and he never lost that small town feeling. No matter where he was, he was always the same. He always had time to talk to people. He especially had time for kids. That was something that was pretty phenomenal about him."
Kayla Lowe, Blazi's mother, said "Mason loved Blazi so much." Today, Blazi always remembers what her uncle told her: Don't weaken. "Don't Weaken, Love, Uncle Mason" is even the quote on the plaque that was erected in Mason's name at the hospital.
On February 14, 2020, Blazi and her family shared a special moment when they went to Memphis and had the honor to unveil and dedicate Mason’s plaque on the wall. Mason’s legacy will forever live on the wall of the hospital that has helped so many children and continues to help countless more.
Whisenhunt said, "It means everything to me to have my son's name on a plaque on the wall of the hospital. That helps my grandchild tremendously. When we first started our journey with Blazi, it took $1 million a day to even open the doors of the hospital, now it takes $3 million in five short years, and if one cent of the money donated in Mason's honor helps find a cure, then that's his story. That was God's plan."
The Lowe family knows Mason would be glad that his memory is doing good. In an interview with PBR in 2017, he talked about Blazi and why children's hospital work was important to him. He said, "We are really close. I have some cows and stuff and she names them. She has some wild ones like Snowball. It is kind of funny. It can be a red cow, and its name is Snowball.”
He continued, "Some of those kids, it puts a knot in your stomach because you don’t know what they are going through, and you went through it with your family."
When asked about organizing the events to raise money for St. Jude in honor of Mason and Blazi, Crowe said, "When you see all the work that they do, it really humbles you. They are so appreciative of any donation they get. Getting to go and see what they do makes you appreciate what they do for families and kids... Their lives mean everything to me, and I don’t know them. Hopefully they overcome what they have."
Crowe added that there will be another memorial ride in Mason's name this year, as well, and he's hoping to raise even more money this year. He said, "My goal for this year's bull riding event is $20,000."
There is an account set up at St. Jude in Lowe's name. While survival odds are improving thanks to continued research, there is a lot of room to improve outcomes for kids like Blazi.
To help continuing his story, you can donate to St. Jude by texting PBR to 785833.
The second annual Ridin' with Mason Lowe Memorial Bullriding will be held May 9, 2020, at the Bill Haley Arena in Cassville beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent auction featuring photos of Mason. During intermission, they will have miniature bull riding and event t-shirts will be for sale throughout the bull rides, all benefiting St. Jude in Mason's memory.
Caden Swearingen
For Exeter's Blazi Lowe, the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor shook her family. However, her uncle and well-known professional bull rider Mason Lowe was one of her biggest supporters through it all. Following Mason's untimely death, the PBR stepped in, raising money in honor of both Mason and Blazi, and that donation of $15,000 was presented to St. Jude Children's Hospital recently.
Mason Lowe tragically died from complications related to a bull riding accident in Denver, Colo., on January 15, 2019. Four months later, a PBR bull riding event was hosted in Cassville and eventually, they raised $15,000 in his name.
Stu Crowe, of Cassville, is one of two individuals who organized the inaugural Ridin' with Mason Lowe PBR event. Crowe and Cindy O'Neall, who both have ties to PBR, decided to put the event together, and it wasn't hard for them to get PBR on board with the idea. The event was held on May 11, 2019. They thought it was a good way to honor the memory of Mason, support a good cause and to help kids just like Blazi. The event featured around 40 riders and 50 bulls. There was estimated attendance of around 3,000 people, which helped accumulate the impressive total.
On June 24, 2019, the Ridin' with Mason Lowe team had the honor of going to St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., to make the donation, and the plaque honoring the donation was put up at the children's hospital on February 14, 2020.
The Lowe family attended, showing respect for Mason and also honoring Blazi's courageous fight. Blazi Lowe was a normal five-year-old from Exeter prior to her diagnosis. She had just started kindergarten when she got sick. Blazi's grandmother Melissa Whisenhunt thought it was just an illness going around in the family.
Whisenhunt said, "On Friday [August 21], the baby-sitter called and said Blazi was crying because she had a headache and was throwing up. When I called the clinic, they said take her to Springfield immediately."
Once there, blood tests and a CAT scan were completed, and the family received the devastating news: Blazi had a brain tumor. The last four years had lots of ups and downs, but Blazi is now 10 years old.
Blazi has had four brain surgeries, one in Springfield and three in Memphis. She underwent one round of brain radiation, immunotherapy, and lastly a full brain and spine proton radiation. Blazi is doing as well as she can be expected given the circumstances. She still undergoes both physical and occupational therapy twice a week due to a massive stroke after the first surgery and all the residual effect from the treatments.
Mason was 25 when he passed away on January 15, 2019, after suffering injuries during a ride in Denver. Lowe, who competed professionally for the seven years prior to his death, was ranked 18th in the world. He ranked as high as 11th during his career.
Crowe said, "I'd known him since he was a little boy. When he was kid, it didn't take a lot to make him happy. He was always in a good mood."
He added, "Mason was just a small town guy, and he never lost that small town feeling. No matter where he was, he was always the same. He always had time to talk to people. He especially had time for kids. That was something that was pretty phenomenal about him."
Kayla Lowe, Blazi's mother, said "Mason loved Blazi so much." Today, Blazi always remembers what her uncle told her: Don't weaken. "Don't Weaken, Love, Uncle Mason" is even the quote on the plaque that was erected in Mason's name at the hospital.
On February 14, 2020, Blazi and her family shared a special moment when they went to Memphis and had the honor to unveil and dedicate Mason’s plaque on the wall. Mason’s legacy will forever live on the wall of the hospital that has helped so many children and continues to help countless more.
Whisenhunt said, "It means everything to me to have my son's name on a plaque on the wall of the hospital. That helps my grandchild tremendously. When we first started our journey with Blazi, it took $1 million a day to even open the doors of the hospital, now it takes $3 million in five short years, and if one cent of the money donated in Mason's honor helps find a cure, then that's his story. That was God's plan."
The Lowe family knows Mason would be glad that his memory is doing good. In an interview with PBR in 2017, he talked about Blazi and why children's hospital work was important to him. He said, "We are really close. I have some cows and stuff and she names them. She has some wild ones like Snowball. It is kind of funny. It can be a red cow, and its name is Snowball.”
He continued, "Some of those kids, it puts a knot in your stomach because you don’t know what they are going through, and you went through it with your family."
When asked about organizing the events to raise money for St. Jude in honor of Mason and Blazi, Crowe said, "When you see all the work that they do, it really humbles you. They are so appreciative of any donation they get. Getting to go and see what they do makes you appreciate what they do for families and kids... Their lives mean everything to me, and I don’t know them. Hopefully they overcome what they have."
Crowe added that there will be another memorial ride in Mason's name this year, as well, and he's hoping to raise even more money this year. He said, "My goal for this year's bull riding event is $20,000."
There is an account set up at St. Jude in Lowe's name. While survival odds are improving thanks to continued research, there is a lot of room to improve outcomes for kids like Blazi.
To help continuing his story, you can donate to St. Jude by texting PBR to 785833.
The second annual Ridin' with Mason Lowe Memorial Bullriding will be held May 9, 2020, at the Bill Haley Arena in Cassville beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent auction featuring photos of Mason. During intermission, they will have miniature bull riding and event t-shirts will be for sale throughout the bull rides, all benefiting St. Jude in Mason's memory.
