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Inspired by the courageous story of young girl who had lost her battle with a rare form of cancer, professional comedian “Cowboy” Bill Martin decided to do his part to make a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses, creating the Cowboys Who Care Foundation which provides financial support, smiles and free cowboy hats to these special children.

A regular performer in Carnival Cruise Lines’ Punchliner Comedy Clubs, Martin came up with the idea of providing cowboy hats as a unique way to bring smiles to kids’ faces.  “As a father, I wanted to do something to help as all I could think about were these beautiful children with big smiles and bald heads.  And then it hit me – no kid wants to wear a wig, but what kid wouldn’t want to wear a cowboy hat, healthy or otherwise?”

Since Cowboys Who Care was founded in May 2012, the organization has provided more than 1,600 cowboy hats to patients at children’s hospitals throughout the country, while raising funds to provide financial support to the children’s families.

While Martin’s primary focus is making guests laugh, during his performances at Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs the professional funnyman always makes it a point to remind guests that they too can make a difference in people’s lives.  “Sure, I always want to keep ’em laughing but the Punchliner Comedy Clubs provide me with an incredible platform to remind people to cherish every moment and not to take the blessings of their lives for granted.”

Additional information on the Cowboys Who Care Foundation is available at www.cowboyswhocare.org.   Information on “Cowboy” Bill Martin is available at www.cowboybill.com.