Muzzle loader's annual turkey shoot to raise funds for girl with rare cancer

The Northern Free Trappers and Muzzle Loaders Club of Cottonwood is preparing to hold their 15th annual Darryl Burbank Memorial Turkey Shoot, on Nov. 7th beginning at 8 a.m. off of Two Feathers Road in Cottonwood. The Memorial Turkey Shoot raises money for a young cancer patient each year.

This year's candidate is Athena Passidakis, 6, of Redding. Athena is the daughter of Meri and George Passidakis. She also has one brother and a sister.

At age 3, Athena was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Not much is known about this deadly form of cancer. Since its onset, the cancer has also moved on to her central nervous system and has also resulted in Athena's diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, low thyroid and low cortisol disease.

The goal for the Northern Free Trappers and Muzzle Loaders Club each year is to raise a large amount of money for a family and, of course, members are "shooting for a smile."

The Rendezvous events will include rifle and shotgun target shooting, prize drawings, hawk and knife throwing and a fun shoot. Registration fees are $5.00 for a single person, $10.00 per family.

For more information, call Mike Westphal at 365-6376 or Bill Bullert at 247-7296.