Community Invited To Pull Together For 10 Year Old Gabe Sikkema At Stirling Fundraiser
- Small Town Productions
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A hometown truck and tractor pull is returning to the Stirling Agricultural Fairgrounds this summer with a mission bigger than horsepower.
Pulling Together 2.0 will be held in support of 10 year old Gabe Sikkema and his family as they prepare for the next stage of his cancer treatment.
Event Details
The fundraiser will be held at the Stirling Agricultural Fairgrounds, located at 437 West Front Street in Stirling on July 4th, 2026.
Gates open at 10 a.m., with the event beginning at 12 noon.
Admission is $10 per person at the gate, while children under 12 can attend for free.
Competitors will pay a $10 hook fee per pull.
The day will also include raffle prizes and a 50/50 draw, with all proceeds going directly to the Sikkema family.
Why The Community Is Pulling Together
According to event organizers, Gabe was diagnosed with B Cell ALL Leukemia at the age of two. He went through three and a half years of chemotherapy and was cleared in 2021.
The cancer returned in 2023. Gabe fought back again, but organizers say he faced a second relapse in July 2025 at the age of 10.
After several advanced treatments, including CAR T Cell therapy, Gabe’s medical team has determined that his best remaining option is a bone marrow transplant.
A Family Facing A Long Stay Away From Home
This April, Gabe and his family are expected to travel to SickKids in Toronto, where his treatment and recovery could require a stay of 30 to more than 100 days.
That kind of medical journey brings major challenges beyond the hospital room, including travel, hotels, meals, time away from work and the emotional weight of supporting a child through serious illness.
The goal of Pulling Together 2.0 is to help ease some of that pressure and remind the Sikkema family they are surrounded by support.
From A Hometown Idea To A Community Effort
The fundraiser was created by Daniel Bush and his friend John Sexsmith, who had talked for years about hosting a truck and tractor pull in their hometown.
Last year, they decided to make it happen and use the event to help a local family in need. What began as two friends following a passion for trucks, tractors and horsepower quickly became something much larger.
With support from local businesses, organizations, sponsors, volunteers and community members, the first Pulling Together Stirling event welcomed more than 800 spectators and 120 competitors. It also helped raise nearly $14,000 for a local family whose four year old boy was battling cancer.
How To Attend
Organizers are hoping to see familiar faces and new supporters come out on July 4.
Community members or businesses with questions about sponsorships or general event inquiries can contact Daniel Bush at 613 847 6266 or by email at Pullingtogetherstirling@gmail.com.
More information can also be found through the Facebook event page, Pulling Together Stirling.
On July 4th, every pull, ticket and show of support will help stand behind Gabe Sikkema and his family during an incredibly difficult chapter.
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