The "Save A Pair For Breast Cancer Awareness" trapshooting event held on Sunday, July 22, at the Pine Grove Sportsmen's Club in Russell was a rousing success, raising a total of $7,502.
One hundred and twelve shooters participated in the event - billed as the first trapshooting event of its kind in the area. It featured pink targets and was organized by Spear and Carlette Proukou. Proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pittsburgh affiliate.
Approximately 1.3 million men and women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. The Komen Pittsburgh affiliate, which serves 30 counties across western and central Pennsylvania, has raised more that $28 million to fund local breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment initiatives.
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Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoos
Rousing success
From left, beginning front, Kathy Purcell (CEO of the Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh affiliate), Carlette Proukou (event organizer), Spear Proukou (event organizer), Dave Carlson (president of Pine Grove Sportsmen’s Association), Scott Carter (vice president of Pine Grove Sportsmen’s Association), and Terry Trumbull (treasurer of Pine Grove Sportsmen’s Association) proudly display the proceeds from the “Save A Pair For Breast Cancer Awareness” event held Sunday, July 22, at the Pine Grove Sportsmen’s Association in Russell. The event was a huge success, topping the goal of raising $5,000 by more than $2,500, with an additional donation to be made when remaining souvenir t-shirts are sold.
Organizing the event was easy for the Proukous, who already knew they wanted to put an event together with Pine Grove.
"We're all very affected by breast cancer," said Carlette. "Nobody else has done anything remotely close to this."
Among the 112 shooters, 54 ladies shot in the free 22 rifle event, several of whom were first-time shooters. Participants in both events received a free pink or blue t-shirt as well as an entry into a drawing for a Marlin 22 rifle with scope.
The ladies winner, Cindy Cable, received a handcrafted lap quilt while event winner Ray Lee won a Beretta 391 Sporting Clays shotgun, provided by Etchen Guns of Ligonier, Pa. Runner-ups Kevin Sturzenbecker and Ashley Walton each received Pink Crickett 22 rifles donated by Rick Brecht. Troby Russ was the winner of the Marlin 22 rifle drawing.
Other activities throughout the day included a chinese auction as well as a cash raffle.
The $7,502 raised in the event blew the goal of $5,000 out of the water - a result that Kathy Purcell, CEO Komen Pittsburgh affiliate, called "amazing for a first-year event."
"We were elated, ecstatic and very grateful," Carlette added, noting that the event had nearly 50 generous donors.
An additional donation will be made when the remaining pink and blue souvenir t-shirts are sold.
"Pledging the rest of our t-shirts could get us up to an additional $2,000, so we're pushing to get close to $10,000 total," Carlette said.
The enormous success of the first-year event opens the door for a repeat next year.
"Hopefully we'll be able to make this an annual event," Spear said.
Pine Grove Sportsmen's Association President Dave Carlson took it one step further: "You can scratch the hopefully out. Next year we'll be here."