LifeNRA Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Hunting trips offered to sick kids Group helps ill children enjoy outdoor exploits Monday, May 30, 2005 BY BARBARA MILLER Of Our Palmyra Bureau Last year, before he lost his ability to walk, Zachary Neill, 10, of Chester County wanted to go deer hunting in the desert. His parents arranged his trip with the help of Hunt Of A Lifetime, a nationwide organization that provides free hunting trips for seriously ill children. Tina Pattison of Erie founded the organization in 1999 after the Make-a-Wish Foundation turned down her son's request to take a hunting trip. Since then, her organization has provided 178 hunts. Hunt Of A Lifetime receives donations from hunting organizations, outfitters and corporations nationwide, including Hemlock Field Archers of Cornwall. The archery club, the largest in the area, has raised more than $30,000 for HOAL in three years through an annual benefit 3-D shoot. The archers group stopped donating to Make-A-Wish after that organization decided in January 2000 not to grant wishes that involve firearms or sports shooting equipment. Those trips were stopped "on the basis of safety considerations," said Jim Maggio, spokesman for the group. However, Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of the Humane Society for the United States, formerly the Fund for Animals, said her group worked behind the scenes in the late 1990s to convince Make-A-Wish to stop granting hunting trips as wishes. "We don't believe it's appropriate for a charity to provide gifts that involve killing an animal," Prescott said. Pattison said she started her organization in response. "I feel it's pretty pathetic when grownups have to impress their beliefs or their choices on children," Pattison said. Maggio said that fewer than a dozen of the 80,000 wishes granted by Make-A-Wish before January 2000 were for hunting trips. Pattison said her son Matthew, 18, wanted to go moose hunting but was turned down by Make-A-Wish in 1998. Since he was 18, Matthew was past the organization's age limit, she said. His mother raised funds through outfitters and private donations, and Matthew took his trip to Alberta, Canada, in October 1998. He died the following April from complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pattison said wish recipients "are not going out there to kill an animal. They are going to put food on the table, which they will probably not grow up to do in the future. They want the privilege to say, 'I provided a meal for my family.'" Her son, she said, improved after the hunt. "He had a cheerier attitude -- he was so proud to bring a moose home," she said. HOAL has raised about $300,000 in each of the last two years, and granted wishes to 63 children last year. Among them was Zachary Neill, who has Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, a disease that causes progressive weakening of the muscles. Now 11, Zachary relies on a wheelchair, his father said. Because he wasn't old enough to hunt in Pennsylvania and his health was worsening, his family turned to HOAL for help. As a result, Zachary hunted on a ranch in Pearsol, Texas, and bagged a doe and eight-point buck. "He was very proud," Harry Neill said, adding that the family would never have been able to afford such a trip. "It made him feel good to participate in the whole hunting process from start to finish." Karen Vucetic of Lebanon said her son, Johnny, 19, died of complications from a brain tumor in February before he could hunt bobcat and wild boar on a trip to North Carolina that HOAL offered. "He was excited about it. He really wanted to go," Karen Vucetic said. Johnny had taken a trip to the resort "Give Kids the World" near Disneyworld through Make-A-Wish Foundation, his mother said. "It's great that there is more than one organization out there for these kids," Vucetic said. BARBARA MILLER: 832-2090 or [email protected] DETAILS What: Hunt of A Lifetime Benefit 3D Shoot Why: HOAL fulfills sporting wishes for youths with life-threatening illnesses When: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. June 18-19. Where: Hemlock Field Archers, 99 Springhill Lane, Cornwall. Cost: $10, plus additional fee for raffles, silent auctions. To learn more: Call 274-0802 Donations: May be sent to Hemlock Field Archers, c/o Neal Schwendemann, 99 Springhill Lane, Lebanon 17042 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Done deal,,my donation is going out in the morning mail.....every little bit helps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThethirdI Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Hey Life. Is Cornwall in PA? I was going to be in PA that weekend anyway and sure would like to participate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted June 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Yes, its right below where I live. I was never at a 3D shoot. I will probably go just to see what they are about. Plus I know a few people who are members of the club. I might join too. Hey all! I didnt put this here to gather donations! I thought it was cool that a local club near me got this kid a hunt! I also had a friend who had Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was my best friend and long time fishing partner. So this email I got from the NRA kind of hit home. Just thought I would share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids [ QUOTE ] Hey all! I didnt put this here to gather donations! [/ QUOTE ] Never even crossed my mind...I just thought it was a very worthy and admirable thing that was being done.... ,,,and besides I blow away more than my share of money of JUNK,,,,so why not put it where it could help do some good.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids great post on a tremendous ouganization. maybe also go to the archives and read "blakes monster bull", april 22, 2005. story of a 13 year old, on an elk hunt, 18 days after cancer returned and the doctors removed his right leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bronco_mudder Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Funny you should mention that Steve, I just got around to reading your story in my NAHC mag last night. You did a great thing, there should be more of those types of stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted June 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids [ QUOTE ] His parents arranged his trip with the help of Hunt Of A Lifetime, a nationwide organization that provides free hunting trips for seriously ill children. Tina Pattison of Erie founded the organization in 1999 after the Make-a-Wish Foundation turned down her son's request to take a hunting trip. Since then, her organization has provided 178 hunts. Hunt Of A Lifetime receives donations from hunting organizations, outfitters and corporations nationwide, including Hemlock Field Archers of Cornwall. The archery club, the largest in the area, has raised more than $30,000 for HOAL in three years through an annual benefit 3-D shoot. The archers group stopped donating to Make-A-Wish after that organization decided in January 2000 not to grant wishes that involve firearms or sports shooting equipment. Those trips were stopped "on the basis of safety considerations," said Jim Maggio, spokesman for the group. However, Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of the Humane Society for the United States, formerly the Fund for Animals, said her group worked behind the scenes in the late 1990s to convince Make-A-Wish to stop granting hunting trips as wishes. "We don't believe it's appropriate for a charity to provide gifts that involve killing an animal," Prescott said. [/ QUOTE ] I failed to read this clearly! I didnt see the the Make-A-Wish Foundation backed out in the hunting trips! I plan on going to this event! I heard it is a very big event! So I will be taking plently of pics. Ill post them when its over. Also, I was never at a 3D shoot before, maybe it will spark something for me to try! Even just for fun! Might even help me with shooting the bow better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Thanks for posting this LifeNRA. It's good to see stories like this in print. I hope they continue to grow and surpass Make-a-Wish foundation. I had heard about them backing out due to pressure and it infuriated me. Sometimes you never know when your hardship will make a difference in others lives. She went to Make-a-Wish for her son and ended up making a difference in a whole lot of other lives. Kudos to the archery club for backing her and her org. And Kudos to Barbara Miller, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birddog Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids This is awesome: I have nothing am not out for anything, etc: However I would do anything in my power to provide a hunt or fishing trip for a kid or adult who may not get a chance next season! Organizations like this are a great asset to the outdoor community: I, like many others here would be more than happy to do our best to provide a free hunt to any person, who truly wanted to do this as a lifes, dream! We take so much of this for granted....if any of you ever know of someone who needs or truly "wants" a hunt....I don't have much, but I can put them on bass, pike, walleyes...Whitetails in MN (not trophy, usually)...and black bear...I'd bend over backwards to help...and I am just an average joe....I love to see organizations willing to grant these wishes...heck, if I find out I am dying...I'll be begging for a chance at a Griz.... My donation is sent out in the a.m. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: Hunting trips offered to sick kids Great post...that makes my heart feel good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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