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If you have been to Snowshoe in the last 31 years, you know the legendary Ballhooter Mike. He's been the friendly face ushering thousands of people up the mountain, greeting everyone, and making thousands of friends along the way. Mike knows this mountain from top to bottom and has used that knowledge to help others find the love of the outdoors. Mike & his wife need our help now. Unfortunately, Mike had a major medical emergency and had to be air lifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and will be undergoing surgery on 8/20/24. 

Mike Williams (Ballhooter Mike) has been a staple of the Snowshoe highlands and if you know him, you love him. He needs our love now.  

https://highland-outdoors.com/highland-profiles-michael-williams/

We are all wishing Mike and his family love, thoughts, and prayers for his recovery. We are asking for any help you can give the family at this time.

Update (approved by Dayna). 11:45am. 8/20/24

I know a ton of people have questions, so I will share the story of how it all went down and the most recent updates from Mike's wife, Dayna (with her permission, of course). On Saturday, 8/17/24, Ballhooter Mike was doing his thing at the bottom of Western, greeting everyone with a huge smile, scanning tickets & jamming to some Motown, as always. Mike was working with Chris that day. It was a warm day at the bottom of Western; not much of a breeze. (If you know the bottom of Western in the summer, you know.) Mike told Chris he was hot & wanted to sit down for a minute. That's when things took a turn for the worse in a really bad way. Chris got on the phone and Snowshoe Patrol does what they do best! Thanks to Chris' & Patrol's quick actions, Mike was in a helicopter headed to Roanoke. Tests & scans were done revealing multiple cancerous brain & lung tumors. More tests & scans to come, and we will update as soon as possible. In the meantime, please keep Mike, Dayna, Mike's daughter & her family in your thoughts & prayers.