Sporting Clays Tournament today and Friday

casey@theheraldnewspapers.com Cure Finders will be holding their 4th annual Vulcan Materials ‘Make-A-Break-Thru’ Sporting Clays Tournament today and Friday. This popular tournament, now in its 4th year will be held at East Tennessee’s newest facility, Chilhowee Sportsmen’s Club in Maryville. The event was founded by Mickey Burns and Kirk Eastin of Vulcan Materials and the local Cure Finders team in 2003 to help fund the research for a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). It has now grown to be the 2nd largest benefit sporting clays tournament in the southeastern United States. This event will include a 100-round sporting clays course, wobble trap, 3-d archery and other games, as well as a prime rib luncheon provided by Steve Flynn and Kevin Ownby.  The event format is set up so that all shooters whether experienced or those with, shall we say, much room for improvement have an equal footing in the race for great prizes. Inidividuals or teams (5 shooters) are encouraged to come and participate ($100 per participant). There’s good news and bad news though. “If you are going to shoot with us, it will be Friday” said Kirk Eastin, event organizer and Cure Finders Board member, “because Saturday is sold out.” Last year’s event attracted over 300 participants, taking home over $15,000 in prizes and giveaways. What’s more, the event managed to raise over $85,000 for CF research. This year’s event has over $30,000 in prizes in store. The non-profit group formed in 2001 to help raise money and awareness for the fight against CF. In 2004 alone, Cure Finders raised $100,000 which will be used towards research for a cure. Earlier this year the group presented Dr. Dan Hassett, a University of Cincinnati CF researcher who has recently made what could turn out to be a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against CF, with a $10,000 grant for continued research. In other efforts, representatives from Cure Finders speak to hundreds of children and adults each year in the quest to educate the people of Sevier County. This endeavor has helped many to recognize the symptoms of CF, help those with CF and to help with the search for a cure. Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic killer of America’s children. The average life expectancy of a child born with CF is only 34 years. CF causes thick stick mucous that clogs lungs and other organs in the body. Researchers feel that recent advances in therapies and medications will make a profound impact on this horrific killer of children.