By Holly Jackson

Contributing Writer

Westbankers joined University of Texas Coach Mack Brown and wife Sally Brown, other UT football coaches, their wives and current and past Longhorn players at the inaugural “Dealing for Duchenne” Charity Casino Night.

Benefiting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, more than 330 philanthropic partygoers mingled with athletes and celebrities at the UT Golf Club.

Longhorn fans took photos with mascot Bevo and Smokey the Cannon. Game players tried their luck at the faux casino and raffle drawings. Westbanker Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel played their boot-scooting live music. Five food stations featured Tex Mex, chicken fry, seafood, fresco and dessert.

The silent auction showcased sports items such as VIP tickets to a Rangers baseball game, a Longhorn TAG Heuer watch, radio personality for a day on The Zone, Roger Clemens-signed baseball, Colt McCoy inscribed football helmet, and D.J. Augustine autographed basketball.

Grammy award-winner and country music singer Larry Gatlin led the exciting live auction. Coincidentally, the largest bid ended in a three-way tie for a private in-home performance by Gatlin. Other top sellers were a television tour of the “CSI” set in Los Angeles by actor Rex Linn, a penthouse condo stay in Telluride and a Breitling Orbiter flight during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

The evening honored 6-year-old Timmy Revell of Cedar Park, who struggles with DMD, the most common and lethal genetic disorder for children. The disease causes young boys to experience rapid muscle loss. By age 12, many of these youth are wheelchair bound. By their late teens, many are paralyzed. One in every 3,500 boys is affected worldwide.

Proceeds generated approximately $165,000 to fund cell and gene therapy research by Dr. Jeff Chamberlain at the University of Washington. By partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, CureDuchenne’s initiatives for clinical trials can translate into novel drug compounds to treat patients.

“Thanks to honorary chairs Mack and Sally Brown and many volunteers, the event was a tremendous success,” said Debra Miller, president and founder. “We hope Austinites will help find a cure for boys with DMD and give them a chance for a lifetime.”

For further information, visit www.cureduchenne.org.

BELOW: Honorary co-chairs Coach Mack Brown and Sally Brown