By Bob Barrickman (From the Jeffersonian Democrat)

SIGEL - The Sigel Sportsmen's Club sponsored a 3D archery fundraiser on June 10 to help make hunting and fishing dreams come true for youngsters 21 and under, with life-threatening illnesses. The event took place on the club grounds where archers came from near and far to help the cause to make some dreams come true for some youngsters with life-threatening illnesses.

Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation, Inc., the name of the non- profit charity foundation, has the primary purpose to grant hunting and fishing adventures to children under 21, children who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses.

The organization was started in 2000 by Tina Pattison of Pennsylvania. Pattison pledged to make dreams happen, just like she made her stepson's dream hunt happen. He was able to hunt moose in Canada just six months before he died of cancer.

Hunt of a Lifetime is an organization that has spread through 38 states since it started in 2000, and it has sent over 400 youngsters on their hunting and fishing dream trips.

Last year, Hunt of a Lifetime sent 69 children on their dream hunting and fishing trips.

Already, this year, over 40 children were granted their wishes in hunting and fishing trips.

Last year, Hunt of a Lifetime sent an area boy to Alaska to hunt bear. Another went to Texas to hunt whitetail deer.

A girl went to New Zealand to fish. Some youngsters have gone to Africa to hunt.

Davis said "We pay for an adult to go with the youngster who receives their hunting or fishing trip of a lifetime, plus we pay for transportation, processing of the harvest...everything."

Davis also said. "They (the recipients) are sent to wherever they want to go and for whatever they want to do. A boy from this area wanted to hunt alligators in Florida. And he went."

Jack Lingenfelter, a Sigel Sportsmen's Club member, said, "Our special fundraiser, 3D archery shoot ran from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. today." He added, “The proceeds from this shoot go to Hunt of a Lifetime."

Davis, a western Pennsylvania volunteer ambassador for Hunt of a Lifetime, said that interested people could volunteer to help in many ways.

Applications for hunting and fishing dream trips can be obtained from the web site, www.huntofalifetime.org

Call toll free at 1-866-345-4455 or 1-814-899-4372; or, write to Hunt of a Lifetime, 6297 Buffalo Road, Harborcreek, PA 16421.