Bair wins annual Compete For A Cause

Local drumming sensation Gage Bair not only won first in his middle school age division, but was also selected as the overall champion by the judges of the sixth annual Compete For A Cause event in Cody.

“He was amazing,” event director Brook Grant said. “I wasn’t surprised that he won, but he looked shocked. He totally rocked it.”

Grant, who was a drummer herself in high school, has wanted to find another drummer to participate since the event started and reached out to Bair’s mother Stacy to encourage him to enter.

He and 20 other acts ranging from 7 years old and up compete in their different age categories to place first or second in each division, first overall and People’s Choice that is voted on by the 600-650 people in attendance.

“It was my love of growing up in Lovell and participating in the Follies that drove me to begin this in Cody,” Lovell native Grant said. “I am grateful for my time in the Hyart and being able to perform there and wanted to bring something similar to Cody.”

This event goes along with their summer reading program at the Cody library and is the grand finale to the summer.

In its sixth year, the event has grown and become the most successful fundraiser yet with great support from sponsors and donations.

After taking care of the minor expenses, all of the money raised goes to a local individual with a medical condition to help with financial responsibilities.

Their board accepts nominations to receive the support beginning in January each year and determines who receives the honor and whose family will benefit most on a need basis.

This year, Axel Jeremiah of Cody, who was born premature and with inner uterine fetal growth restrictions, was the recipient.

His condition caused everything to develop slowly and be 100 percent dependent on a feeding tube his whole life so far and on oxygen the first five years of his life.

Jeremiah is about to undergo three major surgeries to expand his airway and then begin an intensive feeding clinic in Denver with the hopes of getting off his feeding tube and eating normally.

“He has been on a waiting list for four years to get into the feeding clinic, and they just got a call for a consultation,” Grant said. “We are so happy to be able to help him and his family and hope for the best-case scenario.”