The desire to help sick children keeps Marine veteran Robert “Bob” Sistok going, even in the Texas heat.

Sistok spends his days picking up trash in Wood County in the Lake Fork area hoping to get pledges for money to go directly to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Research Center.

Sistok has a mission, to serve the children who are, have been or may be at St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn.

The families of patients at St. Jude never receive a bill. Donations take care of all the bills incurred by the families.

Sistok is the founder of an organization named DAV-Dudes for St. Judes. Sistok only asked that check donations be made out to St. Jude.

His group accepts no money for “administrative” costs – every penny goes directly to the hospital and research center.

Sistok lives in Alba after moving from Montana recently.

Sistok gets pledges, and those wanting to donate can send checks directly to St. Judes or send to him and he will send them to the hospital and research center. 

Sistok’s first fundraiser for St. Jude was a 1,145 miles trip on the Mississippi River in 2018.

There were four disabled veterans on that journey. They were a Marine, an Army vet, Air Force vet and Navy vet. That first trip netted over $26,000 which went directly to St. Jude.

”We came up through Iowa and when we pulled into Minneapolis (Minnesota) at the head of the Mississippi River, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News were all there,” Sistok said. “We made that first trip to try and raise awareness for St. Judes.”

Sistok got involved when his girlfriend at the time told him he could not fish all the time and suggested he find an organization to support. Sistok has a heart for the children who need St. Jude.

“I really feel for the kids. They don’t know why they are bald-headed and are often confused. I have been able to tour St. Judes and see the incredible work done there,” Sistok noted. “Every penny we raise goes directly to St. Judes. There are no administrative funds or anything like that. We don’t handle the money; it goes to the kids, every cent.”

Sistok gave credit to Denea Hudman of Colonial Realty in Quitman.

“Denea Hudman helped me get the house I now own in Alba and was the first to pledge a donation in the area for St. Judes,” Sistok said. “Denea believed in what we are doing from the beginning and even gave $500 to get started here in East Texas. Colonial Realty and Denea were the first to donate.”

He also received a $250 pledge and heavy trash bags from TxDOT.

Sistok recently has been picking up trash from FM 515 down FM 17 to the city limits of Alba.

His next project is starting at Alba and going down Hwy. 69 to Emory. Sistok is getting busier after waiting to get through the really hot months.

He encourages others to get involved and welcomes anyone who wants to join him in his efforts.

Sistok’s goal is to donate $50,000 for the kids of St. Jude.

If interested in helping raise funds that will go directly to St. Jude, contact Sistok at 406-212-0487 or his address at 760 East Mockingbird, Alba, 75410.