This Sunday (August 4), you can get trigger happy while supporting families financially while they are dealing with cancer.

The 6th annual charity event 'Shooting For a Cause' will not only get your adrenaline pumping but also raise funds for the Helping Families Handle Cancer Foundation.

Over the past five years, Shooting for a Cause has donated close to 27,000 dollars to the non-profit organization shares Rick Pearson, Event Coordinator for Capture The Flag Paintball and Airsoft. "They give monetary aid to families who have a child with cancer and who are struggling to make ends meet; it goes directly to the families that need it the most."

The sting of getting shot with a paintball will be quickly forgotten when you hear stories from families that have benefitted from the financial relief Helping Families Handle Cancer provided. Father to cancer survivor Gracie, Franklin Crothers, shares there are no words to express the gratitude he feels toward the foundation for their assistance when his daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2015, "For our family, at the time, we were just struggling so much financially before Gracie got sick, and then she got sick. We were already struggling with bills and everything, so they stepped up, and they were able to pay our mortgage for two months. So it was a huge relief for us at the time to know that we didn't have to worry about the roof over our heads or worry about getting behind on mortgage payments, we were able to just focus on Gracie."

It is for this very reason Capture The Flag hosts the annual event which attracts paintballers from all over with varied experience. "We normally have anywhere from 150 to 200 players, and we are always hoping for more because the more, the merrier. The event is open to all ages and for anybody, including kids and we have cheap deals on rentals and paint for the day. There are different scenario games set up to keep people engaged, and you get to meet players from all across Canada that come out to play. There is so much to do, so many people to shoot, and it is just a great day to try out paintball."

Carie Stock, Founder of Helping Families Handle Cancer, is thrilled to once again to have the support of Capture The Flag. "We are so excited about this event this weekend! We look forward to Shooting for a Cause every year. Not only does the paintball community come together and rally, but so do community members at all paintball skill levels. We can’t wait to raise money for our cancer kiddos while having fun!"

The real impact though is not the paint that is splattered, but the gift participants give to families. 

There is no price tag you can place on the value of time, says Crothers, and with the financial aid offered by Helping Families Handle Cancer, his daughter was able to have the support of both her mom and dad. "By us being able to be there for the first whole month, both of us, pretty much 24x7, I think it also helped her. She was getting poked a hundred times, getting blood transfusions, IVs, surgery for ports. I think it really made an impact on her overall outcome."

Last year, Shooting For a Cause raised 7,662 dollars for the foundation and this year they are hoping to match or exceed that amount.

Sign in for the event occurs at 9 a.m. and while you do not need to pre-register, you can RSVP through the Shooting For a Cause event page found HERE or call 403-932-9510. 

Besides a portion of the proceeds from the event being donated, attendees can also bid on auction items, raffle tickets and buy merchandise with all proceeds going towards Helping Families Handle Cancer.

A list of what the event includes is listed below.

  • Entry Fee $30 for those renting gear includes; all-day play, unlimited hot dog BBQ & all equipment including level 3 upgrade marker, camo, mask, chest protector, barrel bag, unlimited air fills. Or use your own gear and entry is $20.
  • Paintballs, 500 balls = $25 or 2000 balls (case) = $80. Premium paint is available at $5 extra per 500 balls or $10 extra for a case. First Strike Rounds will be available on-site. (Absolutely no outside paint allowed).
  • Note that your paid entry into the event gets you into the amazing prize draw with tons of awesome stuff up for grabs. There will be a side raffle prize for (Prize to be determined) that you can buy tickets for $10 per ticket or $20 for three tickets. 100% of proceeds from this side draw will go to Helping Families Handle Cancer.