By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

Bucking broncos and thousand-pound steers have nothing on Caden Kuhn.

Those animals may be able to tango with the toughest cowboys, but Kuhn is beating a case of pneumonia.

The Groves 5-year-old was surprised in his room at Christus St. Mary Hospital Tuesday by rodeo champions Don Gay and Rob Smets who stopped by to spread some rodeo cheer and well wishes.

Gay was an eight-time World Champion bull rider for more than 30 years and now is a rodeo announcer. Smets is a five-time World Champion bull fighter who broke his neck three times in his career.

“This is an opportunity for us to give something back,” Smets said. “I’d rather fight bulls 24 hours a day, seven days a week than be a nurse on a pediatric floor. I’d rather be in pain myself.”

From shy youngsters to premature babies, Smets and Gay visited children at both Christus St. Mary and St. Elizabeth with Children’s Miracle Network.

The cowboys said visiting the hospitals was their way of promoting their lifestyle while brightening the day for children.

“We may go through 30 rooms and help one kid forget for just a minute that he’s in the hospital and that makes it all worthwhile. That’s what it’s all about,” Smets said. “There’s good work going on here.”

Lucky for Kuhn, he is getting better every day and should be released before the end of the week — just in time to get a seat at the YMBL Chute Out Rodeo at Ford Park this weekend.

“The whole idea is for cowboys to have a place with a great competitive atmosphere and promote a lifestyle that’s not bad,” Gay said. “There’s something there for everyone.”

Gay said he’s proud that the proceeds from the YMBL go to local charities. Last year the event raised $2 million, he said.

“We have one night that’s called Tough Enough to Wear Pink and it’s for breast cancer awareness,” he said. “Usually I don’t wear pink because of my last name, but I don’t mind getting laughed at a little bit for a good cause.”

Thursday is Tough Enough to Wear Pink night beginning at 6 p.m. For all attendees wearing pink, the YMBL will donate $1 to the Julie Rogers Gift of Life program.