COLUMBIA, Tenn. — The Maury County Gun Club raised $11,260 for the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation during its annual Shoot for a Cure competition October 23. Proceeds from the annual event are donated to the Foundation’s Women’s Center Fund, which offers support for southern Middle Tennessee women facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
Maury County Gun Club Board Member Don Kerce established Shoot for a Cure in 2012 after his sister, Bennie Jo “BJ” Kerce Warwick, was diagnosed with cancer. In the years since, the event has raised more than $50,000 for the Foundation to help breast cancer patients meet treatment-related needs by funding wigs, camisoles, transportation expenses and more.
“It has been such a pleasure working with Don Kerce and the Maury County Gun Club over the last 10 years as they honored Don’s sister, Bennie Jo Warwick, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2020,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “Don’s passion for helping women battling and recovering from breast cancer is extremely admirable and greatly appreciated.”
This year, more than 200 people participated in the event. Participants spent the day competing individually and as teams in trap and skeet shooting. Several items were also available for auction.
Kerce has recently retired to Florida to be closer to family, according to Kilgore, but the Maury County Gun Club has expressed its plans to continue hosting the event in the years to come.
“I sincerely thank all the Shoot for a Cure organizers and participants for their role in making this event possible,” Kilgore said. “Their enthusiasm and support has impacted hundreds of lives.”
Since 2006, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has funded more than $3.6 million in programs and services benefiting community members in need. These programs include a mobile medical unit, medication and transportation assistance, community health initiatives, a food bank for discharged patients in need, educational support, employee assistance and more. Learn more about the Foundation at MauryRegional.com/Foundation.
Photo Caption: Pictured (l-r) are Joe Kilgore, executive director of the Foundation; Don Kerce, event founder and organizer; and Cambre Hinson, development specialist for the Foundation, during the 2021 Shoot for a Cure event hosted by the Maury County Gun Club.