An archery club has held a tournament to raise funds for a teenage archer who needed lifesaving cancer treatment.
Archers of Raunds, in Northamptonshire held a UKRS Western tournament on 31 August to support Shannon Kilraine, 16, a club member and daughter of the club's Head Coach, Jon.
Shannon has been receiving lifesaving treatment for a tumour behind her eye and the NHS recommended a procedure called AMORE - an intense specialised treatment only carried out in Utrecht, Holland. The NHS doesn't pay for this treatment so fundraising was urgently needed. All profits from the tournament along with a raffle, catering and donations on the day, totalling £1,000, have been paid into Shannon's GoFundMe page.
Shannon has three more rounds of chemotherapy before her treatment is complete but her doctors in Holland are confident that there are no more signs of the cancer.
The tournament saw all seasons in one day
The club would like to thank all those who helped to organise and set up on the day, including Tournament Organiser Tony and all the club members, judges, and friends from local clubs for their generous donations and time, also Manor School where the club shoots for charitable rates. Members donated generously to the raffle with prizes including headphones, a voucher for cakes, and a motorbike lesson. Prizes were also donated by Merlin, Clickers, Egertec, and Archery GB.
The tournament itself was oversubscribed and, despite the 'all seasons in one day' weather, it was a huge success. There was delicious food, including homemade Victoria sponge cake (Shannon’s favourite), a great spirit, and a mix of experience and bowstyles on the line, with some members competing in their first Record Status shoot. Despite the autumnal weather, the club witnessed some fantastic scores, with Shannon's Dad, Jon, bagging a silver medal. Illaria Knibb and Martin Morell achieved national records (subject to ratification).
The club's Chair, Dan Hunt, said: "When Jon first told us the news about Shannon the whole club was initially shocked and upset. This quickly turned into thoughts about how the Archers of Raunds family could get together and help. The success of the day is reflected in the money raised, but I'm most proud of how the whole club has become a closer community in response. We are all looking forward to the day Shannon comes back and shoots with us."
Shannon's dad won a silver medal
