I’ve always gained a great sense of fulfillment from helping others—whether I'm dirtying my hands from physical labor or providing pro-bono marketing consultation. I had the wonderful opportunity to develop a brand awareness campaign for the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It turned out to be a creative and spiritual experience that inspired my efforts to  organize Clays Against Cancer (formerly Shoot for the Cure), a fundraising event for a nonprofit, by a nonprofit, at Loch Raven Skeet & Trap Center (LRSTC).

The first fundraiser I have ever organized, Shoot for the Cure was held in October 2011 to benefit Komen Maryland. It was a fun way to raise money to fight breast cancer, definitely not your run-of-the-mill event. It also served as an excellent opportunity to introduce people to the sport of clay shooting. The outcome of the event far exceeded our expectations in attendance and money raised.  With a diverse crowd ranging from novices to competitive shooters, we had twice as many participants than originally expected; and,  between the  proceeds raised at the event itself and collected pledges, LRSTC mailed a check for $9,910 to Komen Maryland in November.

For 2012, Clays Against Cancer is more than a name change; it's a shift in direction that allows us to raise money for more than one organization, and more than one type of cancer. Based on feedback from last year’s event, we are expecting another great turnout. (If you're still reading this, I hope you can make it out this Oct. 6-7. If you don't know how to shoot, I’d be happy to teach you. Or you can just sponsor me.)