Little Trucker, Big Fight by Bobbi McGee

They say life can change in an instant; this is unfortunately something The Ashley Family can attest to. Six-year-old,Karson Ashley, had been struggling with sickness and tests in March of 2025 confirmed a rare form of “fusion” leukemia, referred to as Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia or MPAL. 

Karson is the son of Eastview, Kentucky’s Cody Ashley, who is an over the road truck driver for Michael Cain Trucking out of Big Clifty, Kentucky and mother, Danni Proctor. Mike Cain is the Great Grandpa of Karson who comes from a long line of grain & feed haulers. When your Daddy drives a big purple Peterbilt, a kid like Karson can’t help but light up at the sight of all that chrome and steel. “Karson calls it “his truck,” said Billy Ashley, lovingly referred to as “PawPaw” by Karson. As he spoke with me this past Saturday in Sonora, Kentucky, about his grandson, a big smile appeared on his face. “Karson loves that truck!” I looked at the orange lettering on the front of Billy’s shirt, “Karson’s Crew,” and as others filed past us, the backsides read “Little Trucker, Big Fight.” 

According to the American Cancer Society, “Every year 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer which thrusts them into a battle that demands incredible courage impacting not just the young patient, but also their families and communities.” “The Statistics around childhood cancer are both sobering and motivating, once a leading cause of death for children, the survival rates today have been steadily improving as the treatments improve.” Treatments such as “radiation, or chemotherapy, frequent transfusions and other invasive treatments,” all of which come with a host of side effects then you have the expenses associated with treatment such a travelcosts, lodging, and time off from work. 

 

As I took pictures of the crowd, I became aware of music playing in the background and I recognized the lyrics of, “Brothers of the Highway,” a popular song covered by trucking musician Tony Justice. It was fitting for the scene playing out before me; you see most folks know of the comradery of our military or law enforcement officers, but you may not be aware of it subtly taking place right outside your car window as you drive by.  There is a diesel trucking community working 24/7 to ensure every item you have ever purchased in America will be sitting on the shelves. It is the truck driver who fuels America. They are looking out for you as a consumer, but they are also looking out for one another within the community. That fact became evident when I spoke with Tee Hodges of Hodges Trucking in Sonoma on Saturday. He stood in front of the maintenance shop on Western Avenue overlooking the site of “Fenders for Family,” a benefit truck show including big trucks, food trucks, bounce houses for the kids and a live auction all for the benefit of young Karson Ashley. 

Mr. Hodges, the owner of Hodges Trucking, comes from a long lineage within the trucking industry. When I asked him why Hodges volunteered to host “Fenders for Family,” he simply stated “because we are a community who takes care of each other, we are a “Trucking Family.” The expanse of property was lined up with rows of over 70 shining semi-trucks, dump trucks, wreckers, day trucks and bobtails. I saw plates from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and more all polished and buffed to perfection. As the smell of local food trucks wafted through the air, he explained to me how it started with a fellow trucking family facing a crisis and grew into a benefit which was mentioned online, then shared from person to person on Facebook and morphed into an organized truck show with over 100 drivers asking to attend. Many vendors donated items for the live auction hosted by Tyler Howell, an auctioneer with Lewis Auction Company, including Martin’s Peterbilt of London, Kentucky. When I asked “PawPaw” Billy Ashley whose idea it was to host a benefit truck show for Karson he said “Our trucking family, they did it for us, they organized it, and the guys really showed up for us. That is just what family does.” Kim Ashley, lovingly referred to as “Mimi,” continues to update the community online daily about Karson, who she nicknamed “Little Peanut.” She explains his different treatments the testing and the challenges he faces each time, posted to Facebook with the hashtag #KarsonsCrew and she never fails to end each post with a Bible verse of the day reminding the community to pray for the family and thanking them for their unwavering support. Each photo shows the big brown eyes and infectious smile of little Karson Ashley.

As Tyler Howell and Cody Howell expertly called out bids inside the Hodges Trucking shop during the benefit auction on Saturday, I saw tables full of goods lined up and a community standing with the Ashley Family.  Dallas Thompson, fiancé of Dalton Hodges of Hodges Trucking, who assisted with the benefit, shared that the highest single-bid item was for a model dump truck made of wood which brought $1200. Other popular items included new tires, gift cards, homemade baked goods, die cast tractors, gift baskets, pocketknives, apparel, live plants, home décor and a country ham. Nothing was left on the table as the spirited bidding served as a promise to the Ashley Family that this community sees you and stands beside you. “We thank you all for such a great turnout in support of little Karson,” said Tyler Howell , “this was really special.” A whopping $30,000.00+ was raised during the benefit from the truck show and action for the Karson Ashley Family.  Fellow owner operator and family friend Dakota Payton with Caney Creek Trucking out of Caneyville, Kentucky stated “We had to step up, that’s what family does.” 

The truck show awards came as a concluding highlight of the day with categories such as “Farthest In” awarded to Amber & Joe Cannon with Horse-N-Around Express, LLC from Petersburg, Indiana, and “Best in Show/Best Interior” awarded to Clifton Parsley with CTS Towing out of Cave City, Kentucky and more. 

As people of all ages walked past me, most supporting the family with “Karson’s Crew,” t shirts on, it made me proud to be a member of the trucking community. Even as the trucking industry continues to change, what has not changed is the drive to support one another, the “brotherhood” if you will. Thanks to the hard-working men and women coming together in the heat of June to shine a little light in the darkness. There is something magical about total strangers investing hours to prepare their equipment to attend a benefit truck show, each traveling from miles around to stand in support of one of their own…….a “little trucker, with a big fight.”