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All Golden at the Rodeo

By: Ruth Nicolaus

Red Bluff boy and family to be guests at this year’s Red Bluff Round-Up

The Bartsch family: parents Chris and Lisa, sons CJ and Lucas, and niece Gracie. They are special guests of the Round-Up and will attend the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December as part of the Golden Circle of Champions. Not pictured: daughter Sarah. Photo courtesy Lisa Bartsch.

Red Bluff, Calif. – A very special person and his family will be guests at this year’s Red Bluff Round-Up.

Lucas Bartsch, his parents Chris and Lisa, and his siblings will be in attendance at the Round-Up this weekend.

The Cottonwood boy, who is twelve years old, has been fighting cancer, on and off, since he was ten months old. It started as a malignant brain tumor, which was removed, and then rounds of chemotherapy. Then, at age six, he had an unsuspecting bump on his forehead which was determined to be pre-cancerous, and it was removed.

In August of 2021, doctors found a malignant tumor on his right kidney, removed it, and then another tumor on a major artery surrounding the kidney appeared. He is taking immunotherapy treatment to shrink the tumor.

Lucas is a typical teenager. He loves playing sports, riding quads, and singing to his favorite music. He’s easygoing, his mom Lisa says, and likes being part of activities.

Being guests of the Round-Up is special to the family. Lisa attended the rodeo as a child, and the family looks forward to making memories there. “I can tell you our family feels very blessed to have this opportunity. If we can shower Lucas with love, and things that keep his mind off the heavy stuff, that is good.”

Lucas’ two favorite rodeo events are the team roping and the bull riding.

This December, the family will be part of the Golden Circle of Champions, a non-profit that invites children fighting cancer and their families to travel to Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The children are given VIP treatment at the rodeo and are paired up with pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, who spend an afternoon with them.

Not only has Lucas faced cancer, but his older brother, CJ, had melanoma at age 8 and was treated. He is in remission.

Lucas has faced health issues nearly his entire life, his mom said.

Lucas fishing: Lucas Bartsch loves to fish. The Cottonwood boy and his family will be special guests of the Red Bluff Round-Up. Photo courtesy Lisa Bartsch

“There’s never been a time when he didn’t have something he was required to do, in terms of his cancer journey,” she said.

“He handles it well. After doctors’ visits, he asks, ‘OK, what do I do? What does that mean?’ He doesn’t get too rattled.”

The time at the Round-Up and at the National Finals Rodeo this December will be a good break for the Bartsch family.

“It’s about having experiences that remind him that life is really great, and it’s worth all this. That’s the gift for me, that I can’t put into words. It’s priceless. He deserves to be recognized for his journey.”

“It will be a special experience,” Lisa said.

Since 2018, the Red Bluff Round-Up has sponsored a child fighting childhood cancer on a trip to the National Finals Rodeo, as a Golden Circle of Champions guest.

This year’s Red Bluff Round-Up is April 21-23. Performances begin at 7 pm on April 21, 2:30 pm on April 22, and 1:30 pm on April 23.

Tickets are on sale online at RedBluffRoundup.com, at the Round-Up Museum (670 Antelope Blvd., Suite 1, Red Bluff) and at the gate. They range in price from $20-$40. For more information visit the website.

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