Sara shooting at the Aiming for a Cure Foundation Charity 3D Archery Shoot
This past weekend my wife and I had the opportunity to attend the 10th annual Aiming for a Cure Foundation Charity Banquet & Auction. It was our first time attending the banquet. All I could say is WOW what an event, great people and lots of money raised for a great cause!You may remember that Sara and I always shoot in the Aiming for a Cure Foundation Charity 3D Archery Shoot in June hosted by the Waltonian Archers. Last year we both finished 2nd in our divisions and had to find out more about this great foundation.
Now for Sara and I, the night wasn’t any more eventful, than enjoying our time with friends, some new, some old. So I wanted to take a little time because this was a milestone event. Ten years the Aiming for a Cure Foundation has been working to help sick kid’s families. For anyone who doesn’t know the Aiming for a Care story, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to it.
From their website:
The Inspiration for Aiming for a Cure
Benjamin Joseph Ries
Benjamin Joseph Ries was born to Steve and Jodie Ries on October 4, 1992. He was a good-natured and happy kid with normal boy interests. Ben had a love for baseball and hunting and was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs. Overall, Ben was a pretty typical kid with a normal family life.
While in the 1st Grade, though, Ben’s typical life changed dramatically. That was the year Ben was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor. As he battled cancer, Ben left a lasting impression on the people around him with his positive spirit. From his classmates to his fellow patients, Ben often seemed much more worried about others than for himself. In spending so much time at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Ben became increasingly concerned about other pediatric cancer patients and their families.
With Ben as an inspiration, the Ries family started the Aiming for a Cure (AFAC) Foundation in 2004 as a way to fulfill Ben’s desire to help his fellow cancer patients. To honor Ben’s love of hunting dogs, they conceived an annual benefit that would bring together celebrities, dogs and bird hunters at Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside, IA. Through the incredible passion and support of many friends and volunteers, Aiming for a Cure became an instant success.
On June 1, 2005, after a courageous five year battle with cancer, Ben went to be with the Lord. While his physical time on earth came to an end far too soon, his spirit continues to live on and provide a positive impact on the lives of many people through the Aiming for a Cure Foundation.
Now in its 8th year, the Aiming for a Cure Foundation has raised more than a million dollars to support cancer patients and their families at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Because the Foundation is completely run by volunteers, it has virtually no overhead and is able to dedicate all contributions directly to the Mission of helping children and their families.
Through the addition of new sponsors and additional events, the reach and contributions to the Foundation continue to grow. For those helped by the Aiming for a Cure Foundation’s efforts, Ben’s life and his compassion for others was no accident and no coincidence. Although Ben has now moved on to a better place, his legacy remains and continues to provide hope and comfort for others through the Foundation he inspired.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Aiming for a Cure Foundation is to raise funds to benefit pediatric oncology patients and families served by University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Our goal is to improve the quality of care and quality of lives of these children through the funding of research and patient care.
Who We Are
Steve Ries
The Aiming for a Cure Foundation is built upon a foundation of committed people with a great passion to help children and their families that suffer from various forms of cancer.
The foundation was started in 2003 with an idea formed by Steve Ries Family and his son Ben Ries.
Coming together with David Tatman at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, they began to formulate a plan and gather the support of others with the same goal.
With the help of Lisa Baum and Michelle Altmaier, it began to take shape and all of the pieces fell together. Each person brought more individuals to provide an enthusiastic group of individuals consisting of bankers, business owners, doctors, marketers and a few celebrities. Also joining the group were people that have been touched by the loss of a loved one by cancer.
Attracting the attention of Hunter’s Specialties, a leader in the outdoor sporting industry, Tim Anderson, Marketing Director, brought a great list of celebrities, financial backing and volunteers to the first event. Note: Tim Anderson is now the Director of Public Relations at Mossy Oak Brand Camo.
Highland Hideaway Hunting Club in Riverside, Iowa was chosen as the spot to hold the event partly because of the great people that run it. Ron Rath and Ryan Giannini helped bring it all together with their knowledge of pheasant hunting, group events and special licensing. With a lodge to handle some of our hunters and the grounds needed to support this growing event it was an ideal situation.
Dozens of volunteers and the organizing committee work year round pulling all of their talents together to make this event what it has become.
Our Sponsors are what has really made this event such a huge success. Without the financial sponsorship of these companies and yours, we could not provide such needed financial support to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network.
Financial Classification
Aiming for a Cure Foundation is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.
Who can support us?
Anyone can support the Aiming for a Cure Foundation. Whether you wish to contribute financially, physically or with products and/or services for our auction, please contact us.
Financially, any dollar amount is a great help. Please donate and spread the word with your friends, colleagues and employers that you have helped out such a wonderful cause.
Volunteers are always needed. If you or someone you know is ambitious and eager to help get support, please contact us and we would be glad to have you.
Product sponsorship is always appreciated in that we raise money through an auction at the annual banquet with these products. If you or your company has a product or service that you would like to donate, please feel free to make that donation.
Click Here for several other ways that you can support our cause.
