The Mountain Home Fire/Rescue team claimed victory over the Mountain Home Police Department in the fifth annual MHPD vs. MHFD Charity Ragball Game on Sunday. While the firefighters secured the traveling trophy for the second consecutive year, the event’s focus was on raising funds for 9-month-old Waylon Callahan and his family.
All proceeds from this year’s game will assist with Waylon’s ongoing medical care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He has been hospitalized nearly his entire life, and his mother has remained by his side. Waylon was born with multiple serious heart defects, including hypoplastic right heart syndrome, tricuspid atresia, transposition of the great arteries, dextrocardia, and several holes in his heart. He has undergone extensive treatment, including four open-chest procedures in his first 19 days of life and a subsequent Norwood open-heart procedure in May.
His recovery has been fraught with complications, including breathing issues, infections, wound difficulties, collapsed lungs, and a brain injury following a G-tube surgery in August. Despite these setbacks, his family has reported some encouraging signs, such as small movements on his left side, which had shown significant weakness. His mother, Kerrigan Callahan, has shared updates on his journey, referring to him as "Waylon the Warrior."
The ragball game, played at the Mountain Home High School softball field, brought the city's police and fire departments together in a spirit of camaraderie for a shared cause. Both agencies typically select their own charities and split proceeds, but this year they united to support Waylon and his family. Following the game, MHFD Captain Jake Bickford and MHPD Officer Zach Ables presented the funds raised to Jason Carter, Waylon's grandfather and a longtime supporter of both departments through his business, Carters and Sons.
In a postgame statement, the fire department expressed pride in their win but emphasized that raising money for Waylon outweighed the competitive rivalry. Similarly, the police department noted that while they regretted not reclaiming the trophy, supporting Waylon was the game’s true purpose.
The annual charity game began in 2022 as a friendly contest and has grown into a significant fundraiser for the Mountain Home community. Previous beneficiaries have included the widow of Officer Billy Dearborn, volunteer firefighter Mark McMahon, and children’s charities like Project Fire Buddies and St. Jude programs. Last year, the event raised a record $5,802, bringing the four-year fundraising total to nearly $20,000.
Bickford, who helped coordinate the fundraiser, said prior to the event that the Sunday evening time slot was selected to accommodate both departments’ training schedules. The win gives the fire department a 3-2 lead in the series, with victories in 2023, 2025, and now 2026. The police department’s sole win came in 2024.
As Waylon continues his challenging medical journey, the funds raised during the game will provide critical support for his family during this time of need.