Gunfire is expected tomorrow in the normally non-violent American Diabetes Association's Kiss-A-Pig contest.
The Friends for Diabetes Sporting Clays Tournament is set for Dorchester Shooting Preserve near Midway.
This year's Kiss-A-Pig is a politically-themed contest to raise money to fight the largest known "silent killer" in America, diabetes. The campaign of Liberty County candidate, Danny Creasy of the Heritage Bank, benefits from the skeet shoot.
Creasy is trying to raise more money than the candidate representing Chatham County Public Schools, Dr. Joe Buck, to see who wins the Repiglican party. Those teams will pit their fundraising skills against each other and other teams representing the Hamocratic Party. The Repiglicans hope to raise more than $100,000 each.
Last year, Chatham County squeaked past Team Liberty by a mere $8,000.
The shoot starts at 8 a.m. In it's fifth year the shoot has become the single largest fundraiser benefiting the ADA and the Liberty County team. Last year the event raised $72,000 and Creasy said it looks like they may surpass that this year.
"I think it's a unique event and a lot of fun and people are drawn to it," Creasy said. "It's something you don't get a chance to do every day."
"It's a very important part of their fundraising activities that helps fund research for a cure for diabetes," said Charles Gaskin, co-owner of the preserve. "We feel it's important to participate."
Gaskin has diabetes, but said having the disease was not the reason for hosting the event. He said the research the event funds is more important than anything else.
This year the shootout secured a title sponsor in Tim Harris and his Ace Hardware stores in Jesup and Hinesville.
"He is our presenting sponsor this year and that was a big deal for us," Creasy said.
He has been involved with the annual fundraisers and was chosen this year's candidate because he knows diabetes can hurt a loved one.
"My wife's family is touched pretty harshly by diabetes," he said. "My sister-in-law and brother-in-law suffer from juvenile diabetes and I have an aunt in my family who suffers from diabetes and my goal is to do my part to all I can to help them."
The campaigning in Liberty County is off to a good start.
"The shoot is the event that does the majority of our fundraising but we've started well with these other events, and some folks like Don Carter of Carter's Funeral Home and Bill Goodwin of Krogers have stepped up on their own and offered to host two new events for us."
Carter said, "We plan to host a fish fry because of the high number of people who are affected by Diabetes. Also we want to do our part to help Liberty County beat Chatham County. We will set up by Phillip's Seafood from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on May 3. Folks can get a plate for $7."
"My wife and I have diabetes and I've been involved with the Kiss-A-Pig since we started a team in Liberty County," Goodwin said. "My wife's mother passed away from diabetes eight months ago and her father also has diabetes. It's personal battle for me."
Goodwin plans to sell Boston butts and ribs in front of Krogers on May 17.
The Friends for Diabetes Sporting Clays Tournament is set for Dorchester Shooting Preserve near Midway.
This year's Kiss-A-Pig is a politically-themed contest to raise money to fight the largest known "silent killer" in America, diabetes. The campaign of Liberty County candidate, Danny Creasy of the Heritage Bank, benefits from the skeet shoot.
Creasy is trying to raise more money than the candidate representing Chatham County Public Schools, Dr. Joe Buck, to see who wins the Repiglican party. Those teams will pit their fundraising skills against each other and other teams representing the Hamocratic Party. The Repiglicans hope to raise more than $100,000 each.
Last year, Chatham County squeaked past Team Liberty by a mere $8,000.
The shoot starts at 8 a.m. In it's fifth year the shoot has become the single largest fundraiser benefiting the ADA and the Liberty County team. Last year the event raised $72,000 and Creasy said it looks like they may surpass that this year.
"I think it's a unique event and a lot of fun and people are drawn to it," Creasy said. "It's something you don't get a chance to do every day."
"It's a very important part of their fundraising activities that helps fund research for a cure for diabetes," said Charles Gaskin, co-owner of the preserve. "We feel it's important to participate."
Gaskin has diabetes, but said having the disease was not the reason for hosting the event. He said the research the event funds is more important than anything else.
This year the shootout secured a title sponsor in Tim Harris and his Ace Hardware stores in Jesup and Hinesville.
"He is our presenting sponsor this year and that was a big deal for us," Creasy said.
He has been involved with the annual fundraisers and was chosen this year's candidate because he knows diabetes can hurt a loved one.
"My wife's family is touched pretty harshly by diabetes," he said. "My sister-in-law and brother-in-law suffer from juvenile diabetes and I have an aunt in my family who suffers from diabetes and my goal is to do my part to all I can to help them."
The campaigning in Liberty County is off to a good start.
"The shoot is the event that does the majority of our fundraising but we've started well with these other events, and some folks like Don Carter of Carter's Funeral Home and Bill Goodwin of Krogers have stepped up on their own and offered to host two new events for us."
Carter said, "We plan to host a fish fry because of the high number of people who are affected by Diabetes. Also we want to do our part to help Liberty County beat Chatham County. We will set up by Phillip's Seafood from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on May 3. Folks can get a plate for $7."
"My wife and I have diabetes and I've been involved with the Kiss-A-Pig since we started a team in Liberty County," Goodwin said. "My wife's mother passed away from diabetes eight months ago and her father also has diabetes. It's personal battle for me."
Goodwin plans to sell Boston butts and ribs in front of Krogers on May 17.