TIONESTA, Pa. (EYT) – The Camo Cares event held on June 24 at the Fryburg Sportsman’s Club raised $132,000.00 to support wounded veterans and children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
“I’m very pleased to announce that Camo Cares 2017 raised $132,000.00 to send kids with life-threatening illnesses and wounded veterans on their dream hunts! That means over the last eight years, Camo Cares has raised over $830,000.00 for these trips…and that’s a whole lot of trips!!!” Kyle Schwabenbauer, event organizer, said. “I simply can’t thank everyone enough for all of your hard work, time, donations, and support for this cause. We are truly making a difference in people’s lives, and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.”
Schwabenbauer reported that 410 shooters signed up for the archery competition.
“We had 190 people working the event, including people from out of state and an outfitter from Alaska came to support the event, so it was another great day,” Schwabenbauer said.
The money raised will help send hundreds of veterans and youth on hunts.
One of them is Jose Valdenegro, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army who was wounded in action in Afghanistan. He will go on an elk hunt in New Mexico in October.
A 13-year-old youth will also go on a hunt this year. Austin Drakulic, of Erie, who is battling brain cancer, is set to go elk hunting in Idaho in October.
Additionally, Seth Apel, the Knox teenager who suffered a tragic accident in 2015 and had to have his right arm reattached, postponed his elk hunt in Oregon from 2016 and will go in October.
Camo Cares, an event presented by Wired Outdoors, hosts a range of activities in order to raise money to send these two groups on “a once in a lifetime outdoor adventure.”
The day included an archery shoot in the morning, followed by introductions from Camo Cares recipients, a raffle, and evening musical performances by three bands.
Raffle winners went home with thousands of dollars in prizes, including guns, bows, and crossbows.
Jason Say, along with Wired Outdoors Vice President Kyle Schwabenbauer, created Camo Cares in order to give back to the community. What began as sending one child on a hunt has turned into raising enough money to send hundreds of children and veterans from across the country on hunts.
The first Camo Cares event in 2009 raised $20,000 and has been steadily increasing ever since. In 2015, the event raised $125,000.00 and last year, it was raised $108,000.00.
For more information, visit wiredoutdoors.com.
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