Hospice Shoot Held as Fundraiser

(FROM LEFT: ETHAN BECK, MARKETING SPECIALIST, HSHS HOSPICE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS; JULIE OHNESORGE, MANAGER, HSHS HOSPICE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS; JEFF, DENISE AND DANIEL GALLAGHER, TWIN OAKS SPORTING CLAYS; STAN BROWN, TWIN OAKS SPORTING CLAYS' COMMITTEE MEMBER; AND MICHAEL WALL, DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY, HSHS ST. ANTHONY'S FOUNDATION)

Twin Oaks Sporting Clays located in Mode held their fourth annual Hospice Shoot for local Hospice organizations. HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois was one of the not-for-profit organizations to benefit from this fundraiser the past four years.

Twin Oaks Sporting Clays is owned by Jeff and Denise Gallagher. Four years ago, the Gallagher’s, along with help from Stan Brown and Charlie Kellogg, started one of the most popular and profitable types of charity events. The day is full of adults and young adults sharpening their skills shooting sporting clays, trap, and skeet. The sporting clays course is set up similarly to a golf course and consists of 100 total shots. Comprised of 14 separate shooting platforms with a different challenge at each platform, it provides a unique shooting experience.

Shooter Ethan Beck, also a colleague of HSHS Hospice, said, “This is a very fun way to sharpen your shooting skills while helping a worthwhile cause.” He added, “My favorite part of the day was shooting the sporting clays course because it provides a different experience outside of shooting traditional trap.”

This year there were 51 shooters, many of who participated in unlimited rounds on the sporting clays course. There were 19 local businesses that were sponsors of the event including major sponsors IBEW Local Union 702 and Twin Oaks Sporting Clays. Schultz’s Dairy Bar of Altamont donated lunch for the event. In addition, each participant received a mug which was made possible through contributions by seven local businesses. Raffle items were also donated by local businesses and supporters of the event.

Michael Wall, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital’s Director of Philanthropy, shared his appreciation for all involved with this event. “I want to express my appreciation to Jeff and Denise, Stan, Charlie, the sponsors, participants and volunteers for their active involvement with this Hospice Shoot. Through their generosity our patients and their families have additional resources available to them from our care team.”

The Gallaghers have been able to donate over $46,000 to local Hospice organizations in the past, and this year alone, were able to raise $5,900 for HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois. The Gallaghers and Stan Brown are already strategizing for next year’s Twin Oaks Hospice Shoot.

HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois covers 27 counties in southern Illinois and is a health care service focused on caring for the whole person and that person’s family, as they face their most vulnerable time: the end of a life. Hospice uses an interdisciplinary approach to caring for terminally ill individuals that stresses palliative (comfort) care as opposed to curative care. Hospice care may take place wherever a person lives, including in their homes, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes.

For questions or more information about HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois program, call HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois at (800) 551-6566, or visit www.hshshospice.org.