Bidding Underway for 56th Annual West Texas Rehab Telethon and Auction

ABILENE, TX — The West Texas Rehabilitation Center’s 56th annual telethon and auction, its largest fundraiser of the year, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Abilene Convention Center.

The event supports rehabilitation services for more than 850 patients served daily, regardless of their ability to pay. Organizers said the auction alone typically raises nearly $1 million.

Online bidding is already open through the Handbid mobile app on hundreds of donated items, with organizers expecting nearly 800 by the time bidding closes at midnight Jan. 31. Items include handmade quilts, patient-created artwork, recreational vehicles, boats, tractors, trailers and utility vehicles.

In-person viewing of auction items begins when doors open at 6 p.m. Jan. 31. The live telethon starts at 7 p.m. and will feature performances by Aaron Watson, Annie Bosko, Jake Hooker and the Outsiders, Red Steagall and the Boys in the Bunkhouse, and others. 

This year’s fundraiser comes as the center prepares for a major expansion, with construction on a new facility set to begin in early February to meet growing demand. Proceeds fund patient care, specialized equipment and programs for individuals and families across the region. 

Auction items can be viewed now on the WTRC Handbid website and app. Find it HERE.