James was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the age of 13 in June of 2006. Since then, James and his sister, Mecklin, have worked towards fundraising to research new treatments in an attempt to help support the Search For A Cure. Both James and Mecklin have seen first-hand how cancer affects both the patients and their families. But more importantly, they have seen that a simple thing like HOPE can raise you from all lows. And that hope is in the collaborative research for new treatments.

Triumph Over Kid Cancer Foundation is proud to announce a new chapter in its relationship with the Sunshine Kids. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 13 in 2006, our co-founder, James Ragan, took many trips with the Sunshine Kids, and learned first-hand the benefits that this organization gives to children. As he got older and his cancer metastasized and worsened, he continued to participate in Sunshine Kids events, but also gave back to the organization by being one of their national spokeskids in 2009. Recently, the Sunshine Kids asked James to make an even greater commitment to children with cancer by serving on the Board of Directors for the Sunshine Kids. James has gladly agreed, and looks forward to the opportunity to help the Sunshine Kids in their efforts to improve the lives of children with cancer. He plans to do everything possible to help Sunshine Kids give young cancer patients the strength, hope and attitude to carry on their fight against this dreaded disease.

Charles A. Hicks

Charlie "Cha-Cha" Hicks proudly joined the TOKC Board of Directors in 2012 at the request of the foundation's founder, James Ragan. Sharing golf as a passion, Cha-Cha and James have developed a friendship that crosses generational lines with both gaining perspective from each other during their rides together on the golf course. Cha-Cha serves as Dealer Principal for his family's automotive operations in Corpus Christi, representing Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and Infiniti franchises. The Hicks family is committed to the Coastal Bend community and dedicates their time and resources to enriching the lives of its citizens through education and economic growth. Cha-Cha has served in leadership positions of several area organizations including the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay and the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation. Nissan and Mercedes-Benz dealers in the United States have elected Cha-Cha to serve as their representative on their respective National Dealer Advisory Boards to foster the partnership between the manufacturers and their dealer network.

While attending the University of Texas in Austin, Cha-Cha met his lovely bride Susan (Crow) and they relocated to Corpus Christi after their graduations in 1984 and marriage in 1985. They have a beautiful daughter Hannah who also graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and is now pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts from the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in California.

This is the belt buckle that I designed for the very first toga party back in 2007. The background is the actual image of microscopic osteosarcoma cells which have been magnified. The middle figure is a tree trunk to represent the strength of life overcoming cancer. Finally, it is inscribed with the word Triumph to symbolize my hope for the future. We chose to also use this symbol as part of our logo to emphasize the need to continue our research efforts. Buckles can be purchased in our store and please wear it often to keep in mind the need to fight kid cancer.

Your help makes every dream of conquering cancer closer to reality.

Thanks,
James and Mecklin