At just three years old, Clayton Chatham has already faced more battles than most will in a lifetime.

A spirited boy from Umatilla, Clayton is this year’s beneficiary of the 2025 Buckles for a Benefit Cattle Show, a two-day event held November 28–29 at the Kissimmee Livestock Pavilion to support families facing pediatric cancer. But for Clayton and his family, the journey has already been long and hard-fought.

Clayton was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer in December 2024. He was only two years old. His initial scans revealed a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen.

Clayton is described as a sweet boy, always smiling, loves to play outside, catch lizards and play on his tricycle. His favorite game is hide-and-seek.

The diagnosis launched the Chatham family into a whirlwind of hospital stays, treatments, and emotional ups and downs. Clayton endured five rounds of chemotherapy before undergoing a seven-hour surgery at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. The procedure was a success, and by May, his scans showed he was in remission.

“I wished I had something witty or funny to say, but this speaks for itself,” says his father, Chris Chatham, after receiving the news. “Cancer is pure hell on everyone… and while there is still work to be done, today was officially the moment Clay can put this disease in the rearview mirror. We would not have made it to this point without the army of family and friends who have supported us every step of the way. We love you all.”

But remission doesn’t mean the journey is over. To lower the risk of relapse, Clayton has continued treatment throughout the summer, including two bone marrow transplants that kept him in the hospital for more than eight weeks, followed by 12 sessions of radiation and five weeks of immunotherapy will follow.

Through it all, Clayton has remained a force of joy as has his big brother Mason and big sister Brooke who continue to play with him and keep his spirits up.

From Arnold Palmer and Advent Children’s to St. Jude, Clay’s journey has been long and difficult. It’s brought some really hard days and some really good days, but one thing has remained, Clay has exceeded every expectation set and continues to shine through each treatment, the family says.

The Buckles for a Benefit Cattle Show will dedicate all proceeds from this year’s event to Clayton’s continued care and recovery.

“Cancer is just one chapter in Clay’s story,” says Chris. “He’s got so many more to write.”

If you are interested in Buckles for a Benefit you can email bucklesforabenefit@gmail.com or call them at 352-800-8321.