Multiple options open to help Karston Cook

GUIN — Marion County High School student Karston Cook is currently undergoing cancer treatment at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and there are several ways anyone can help.
Cook, a 17-year-old junior at Marion County High School, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a form of soft tissue cancer, in September.
“In September, he went in for a typical removal of a large cyst on his ankle,” Cook’s mother, Ashley Hallmark, said. “Dr. Stanford sent it off for biopsy, and it was determined that it was not a cyst. Instead, it was a grade 3 of 3 tumor. He was diagnosed with Synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissue, on Sept. 20, 2024. He does still have a tumor in the ankle joint where it originated and also has two suspicious nodules on his right lung.  
“Karston is currently being treated at St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., where we will be for the next six months to a year. He will be on three different chemo meds. He will take a chemo pill every day.
“Plus, he will go inpatient in the hospital every three weeks for three days while two of the meds are given via IV. This will continue for 12 weeks. Beginning in week 14, he will undergo several in depth and multi stage tumor resection surgeries to try to save his ankle. If this does not work, he will undergo below the knee amputation. Once this heals, he will continue for an additional 16 weeks of inpatient chemo and chemo pill, plus 10-12 weeks of radiation, five days a week. Once inpatient chemo and radiation are finished, he will continue taking the chemo pill for an additional 24 weeks.”
There are multiple opportunities that are currently ongoing or coming up soon for anyone who wants to help to contribute:
- Donations can be sent through Venmo (@HookedOnHopeForKarston), PayPal (@HookedOnHopeForKar) and Cash App ($HookedOnHopeForKar);
- There is a benefit account set up through Citizens Bank of Winfield;
- Donations by check can be made out to Karston Cook, P.O. Box 264, Winfield, AL 35594;
- Donations can also be sent to Karston’s father and stepmom through Venmo and PayPal to @cook8794;
- Care packages, prayer cards or words of encouragement can be sent to Karston Cook or Ashley Hallmark at 361 N. 3rd Street, Apt. 306, Memphis, TN 38105;
- Backstreet Nutrition in Winfield will donate $1 for every tea sold and will be taking donations all week;
- There is also a smoked Boston Butt fundraiser ($40 each). The Oct. 25 pick up is sold out, but there’s another one set for Nov. 9. To order in advance, contact Jerry Ezekiel at 205-495-2006 or Amy Ezekiel at 205-412-3389;
- The Hooked on Hope Fish Fry Fundraiser will be Sunday, Nov. 10, from noon-2 p.m. at the Wayside Community Center (12049 Hwy. 107 in Winfield). Plates are $15 each, with your choice of fish or chicken with beans, slaw, fries, hushpuppies and dessert. Tickets can be purchased at Vintage Marketplace and K Rose in Winfield, Lilly Ann’s and Southern Karma in Guin, Big Juicy Fashions in Fayette, or by contacting 205-412-8318;
- A GoFundMe has been set up: https://gofund.me/0fd4db36;
- Shirts are for sale at etsy.com/
listing/1806977501/tshirt-fundraiser-for-karston-cook ;
- Car Freshies are for sale at meemeescreations.com/product/Karston-cook-fundraiser/492 ;
- There will be a benefit ride for Karston Cook, Wheelin’ for Karston, this Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at the Blue Moon Drive-In. Riders will meet at 2 p.m., and the ride will start at 4. The entry fee is any donation amount.
“So far, he is in good spirits, but missing home,” Hallmark said. “He’s a huge outdoorsman! Hunting, fishing and tinkering outside are what used to take up his time. So, moving to the big city has been the biggest adjustment for him.
“We’re just thanking God that it wasn’t worse, and we found it when we did. At this point, it’s still serious, but they’re tackling it with the treatment plan, and we’re just praying that the lung nodules are not cancer.”