Guns and Hoses game raises $41,000 for Smalley family

On April 4, Mineral County and its residents came together in an incredible show of support for Shawn Smalley and his family. 

Shawn was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in late 2025 and has been aggressively fighting this disease. The financial burden of battling cancer can be overwhelming, which is why Sheriff Ryan Funke stepped in to organize this benefit.

“I felt like I needed to step up for our community and the Smalley family during a time of such great need,” Funke said.

With the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, outreach efforts began with local and statewide businesses. The response was overwhelming, resulting in a wide array of generous donations for the silent auction. In addition, several high-value items were donated by Snowy Mountain Firearms and Cody Carr’s Hunting Adventures, which together raised over $22,000.

The event kicked off at 1 p.m. with the presentation of silent auction items. At 3 p.m., the first annual Guns and Hoses Basketball Game began, opening with a powerful rendition of the National Anthem by Derek Larson. The “Guns” team took an early lead and maintained a strong advantage heading into halftime.

During halftime, Sheriff Funke conducted the live auction, during which multiple items sparked bidding wars. Several items were even purchased and generously donated back for auction, further increasing the total funds raised.

In the second half, the “Hoses” (fire departments) mounted an impressive comeback, nearly upsetting the “Guns” (law enforcement) team. In the end, the Guns secured a narrow victory, 41–36.

“I want to thank all of the volunteers, donors, and community members for making this a successful event,” Funke said.

Thanks to the generosity and unity of the community, over $41,000 was raised for the Smalley family — making that the greatest victory of the day.