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     U.S.S.A. Guest |
Wisconsin-Based Group Provides Hunting and Fishing Trips to Disabled and Terminally Ill Children, Adults. With a heart bigger than Texas and a resolve that could melt steel, Brigid O’Donoghue is on a mission to better the lives of those less fortunate. And she’s doing it one hunting trip at a time. Three years ago, O’Donoghue, 39, of Pittsville, Wis., founded the United Special Sportsmen Alliance, a non-profit group that coordinates hunting, fishing and camping trips for children and adults who are disabled or terminally ill. She calls them dream wishes because in many cases “it’s the last thing they’ll ever do here on earth.” “I started the organization about the time when the Make-A-Wish Foundation stopped offering hunts,” she said. “I’m in the animal research and nutrition business, and I’ve met a lot of farmers and ranchers over the years who own hunting preserves. To make a long story short, one of them asked me if I knew of a person who was terminally ill whom he could donate a hunt to.” Before long, O’Donoghue found a Texas man who was terminally ill. “I attended that hunt with him,” she said. “It was so rewarding that I decided I wanted to do this, to lead the nation in donating hunting and fishing trips to the terminally ill or disabled.” In the last three years, O’Donoghue has brokered deals for more than 200 children and adults to go on hunting and fishing trip across the United States. They range from boar hunting in Florida to elk hunting in South Dakota to bass fishing in Texas. “Whatever they want to do, I make the arrangements for them,” she said. “I want to make the trip as special as possible.” When O’Donoghue calls on an outfitter to donate a hunt, her sales pitch rarely falls on deaf ears. Truth is, she won’t take no for an answer. “ I just speak to them with my heart,” she said. “I say, ‘I have a kid with cancer; can you please help this child.’” You see, O’Donoghue understands what it’s like to be sick. She had a serious brain disease growing up, and it largely defined who she is as a person today. “I spent the first 30 years of my life not having a job, and not knowing what I was going to do,” she said. “But working with these kids, even though they’re sick or disabled, really has made my life complete. I feel blessed.” That’s why, say her friends and coworkers; she works so hard to raise money for the “dream trips.” While finding an outfitter to donate a hunting or fishing trip takes time, so, too, does raising money for travel and other expenses. “The hunts are free, but I’m always looking for donations for the other costs, and thankfully we have received a lot help from corporate America,” she said. “When I’m coordinating a hunt for a sick child, I like to take the entire family along to share in the experience. I think that really helps the family, especially if they’re dealing with a terminal illness.” O’Donoghue attends many of the hunts herself. She is a life-long hunter, angler and conservationist, and believes the outdoors is a place where the sick and disabled can find inner peace. She also believes that preserving our natural resources is one of the highest callings we have “as a society of caring people.” “Our outdoor sporting heritage has been part of our nation since its inception, and must continue to thrive in the future,” she said. “Our nation’s great natural beauty should be enjoyed by all Americans, including the terminally ill and disabled.” Though many of the children she takes hunting or fishing have major physical limitations, most of them find resolve to sit in a deer stand or a hold a fishing pole. “It’s not always easy, but they do it,” she said. “ I’ve sat in deer stands with kids where you could smell death all over them, but they want to be out there anyway. It’s as if the outdoors heals them, if only for a day or two. Many of these children have a limited time on earth and they want to spend it in the great outdoors – not playing video games or watching television.” Brigid O’Donoghue is a special, special person. Her work with the United Special Sportsmen Alliance is a testament to her big heart and steely resolve. More kids need friends like her. We all do. If you’d like to make a donation to the United Special Sportsmen Alliance, contact founder and president Brigid O’Donoghue at 1-(800) 518-8019 or e-mail her at biotec@tds.net. You can also check the group’s Web site at www.deerfood.com. | ||
| Anonymous |
Great Work Brigid.. | ||
| Anonymous |
This entire country is seeing a great change. I have know Brigid for many years and she will fight like hell to get the truth out to the public. I have watched her publically change the minds of an entire room full of doubters when it comes to hunting, farming and of course CWD. Brigid, your kids are helping to give the world a new perspective on the deer/elk farming! WAY TO GO!! |
