By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

When cancer struck her family, Andrea Coomer decided to fight back.

In the past three years, she’s lost a cousin and a close friend to the disease. Her aunt is a survivor of breast and cervical cancer. Her father-in-law is battling the disease right now.

“Malisha Hodges was my cousin and she passed away in February,” Andrea said. “My father-in-law found out in February he has cancer. My Aunt Beverly lives in Corbin and had breast cancer and cervical cancer.

“It’s hit us right in the gut, and it’s hit us in the heart.”

This Saturday, the Coomers’ 7C’s Ranch will host the Trail Ride for a Cure to “remember the ones we have lost to cancer, to honor the ones that have beat this horrible disease, and to support the ones who are battling cancer.”

The trail ride is being held in memory of Malisha Jayne Hodges (1980-2008) and Matthew Scott Stevenson (1975-2005) and in honor of Beverly Ann Gamble-Wehder and Clay Coomer.

The trail ride and dinner are free, but organizers are accepting donations —  “whatever they feel in their heart,” Andrea said. All money raised will be donated to the Markey Cancer Center of Lexington and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Lexington, which provides free temporary housing for patients receiving cancer treatments.

“Hope Lodge is a wonderful organization,” Andrea said. “My cousin stayed there. It’s totally free. Malisha didn’t have to pay anything, and she saved so much in hotel bills.”

Malisha was only 27 years old when she died from the disease, which started as cervical cancer and, while she thought it was in remission, spread to the rest of her body.

“She was 27 and she was gorgeous and a good girl and a good Christian and a good mother. I just can’t say enough about her,” Andrea said.

Malisha passed away in February, and by March the Coomers starting talking about hosting the benefit trail ride. In July, they made a firm commitment to the event and started asking businesses and residents to participate.

“It wasn’t even a question for us, it was just ‘here’s what we can do.’ We have a 100-acre farm and we have horses and that’s what we can do, that’s how we can help,” Andrea said.

Hope Lodge will have representatives at the trail ride to talk about cancer prevention and treatment.

“It’s not really how much money (we raise), it’s how much awareness,” Andrea said.

In the process of organizing the event, Andrea said she’s been surprised by the number of lives touched by cancer.

“I guess it always has been that way, but it just started hitting home the last few years for us,” Andrea said.

The trail ride leaves at 11 a.m., so riders should arrive earlier. The ride lasts approximately two and a half to three hours and will be followed by a dinner and live auction. Items for auction have been donated by Larry the Cable Guy, Carrie Underwood, Atlanta Braves’ outfielder and hometown hero Josh Anderson, Cowboy Comedian Baxter Black, Sonoma Jewelry, NuTopicals Equestrian Products, Compadre recording artist Billy Joe Shaver, Stone Bluff Tack, Warner Fertilize Co. of Nancy and more.

Andrea is expecting 400 or more riders on Saturday.

For those without horses or who don’t want to join the trail ride, there will be cornhole, badminton and horseshoe games at the farm.

Riders can also purchase signs in memory or in honor of those cancer has touched. The signs will be posted throughout the trail, at the auction, and the names will be read off before the dinner.

The 7C’s Ranch is located off Hwy. 80 between London and Somerset at the Nancy exit. Signs will be posted for directions to the farm. To donate to the Markey Cancer Center or the Hope Lodge, to inquire about the sign sponsorship incentive program, to offer items for the auction, or for general questions regarding the Trail Ride For A Cure, contact Andrea at 606-875-9500.