Cattle for a Cure: Ranchers Unite to Fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

September 3, 2026

For the eighth year, Montana’s cattle community is rallying behind the Heaton family and their fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy through the annual Calves to Cure DMD sale at Billings Livestock Commission.

The 2026 Calves to Cure DMD sale will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, with the Calves to Cure portion of the sale beginning at 1 p.m.

Paul and Laura Heaton started the fundraiser after their son, Grant, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at just three years old. Now 12, Grant continues to be the inspiration behind an effort that has raised more than $280,000 for Duchenne research over the past seven years.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, is a rare genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and primarily affects boys. There is currently no cure.

“Most boys with it don't make it out of their 20s, and we wanted to raise money to fund research for it, you know, to get at least a treatment or a cure,” Paul Heaton said.

Heaton said the idea to use a cattle sale as a fundraiser came naturally to a family and community rooted in agriculture.

“We came up with this idea of having a cattle sale, helping some friends ship cattle, and talked to Ty Thompson and he's like, ‘Yeah, heck, let's do this,’” Heaton said. “It just kind of started from there, and eight years later, here we are.”

Calves to Cure DMD is designed so cattle producers can participate at whatever level works for their operation.

The Sept. 17 event is an all-class cattle sale, meaning producers can bring cows, calves, bulls, yearlings or other livestock and determine how much of the proceeds from their consignment they would like to donate.

“The seller gets to pick how much of the sale price they want to donate,” Heaton said. “We understand every animal has a place. It's going to a bill for something — feed, fuel, land payments, everything like that. We get it.”

Producers don't have to donate the entire value of an animal. They can designate a dollar amount from their sale check to support Calves to Cure DMD.

Those who donate a portion of their cattle sales on Sept. 17 will also be entered to win a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle donated by 406 Precision of Twin Bridges.

During its first seven years, Calves to Cure DMD has raised more than $280,000 for Duchenne research.

For the Heatons, the advances made since Grant's diagnosis demonstrate why continued research funding matters.

“How far the research has come in the last eight years is spectacular,” Heaton said. “It's hard to even explain where it started.”

Heaton recalled the devastating outlook the family received following Grant's diagnosis.

“When we were diagnosed, they said, ‘Go home. Love your son. He's going to die,’” Heaton said.

Today, Heaton says advances in research, gene editing and available medicines are providing families with more hope.

“It's making a difference,” Heaton said. “Just in what we're doing with Grant and the medicines available now that he's on, and what we're seeing firsthand that's working for him — it wasn't around seven years ago, and now it is.”

Heaton credits Montana's ranching community and supporters from across the country with helping make those advances possible.

“Everybody's donation from the ranching community in Montana is making a difference and an impact for everybody with this disease,” he said.

Those without cattle to consign can still support the fundraiser through direct donations or this year's online beef raffle.

Raffle tickets are $5 each, with eight winners each receiving approximately 50 pounds of beef. The beef can be shipped to winners anywhere in the lower 48 states.

The raffle will be drawn in Montana at the Sept. 17 auction, and winners do not need to be present. Beef prizes are expected to be delivered in January 2027.

The 8th Annual Calves to Cure DMD Sale will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Billings Livestock Commission in Billings, with the Calves to Cure portion beginning at 1 p.m.

For information about consigning cattle, contact Billings Livestock Commission (406) 245-4151. Paul Heaton at 406-660-1208 For information about donations and the beef raffle, visit CureDuchenne.org and search “Calves to Cure,” or visit the Calves to Cure DMD Facebook page.

Source: Western Ag Network