July 2008

To Turkey Shoot Regatta participants:

This year the Regatta will include sponsored, fundraising boats.

Our decision follows suggestions from participants who have seen sponsored boats at other charity regattas such as the Leukemia Cup.  We will extend the Turkey Shoot’s good natured competition to include trophies and prizes for the most successful fundraisers.

The attachment describes how you may choose to become a sponsored boat.

Funds raised are put to good use by the three sponsoring Hospices. 

In Lancaster County the volunteers of Hospice Support Services of the Northern Neck, currently provide support to more than fifty patients.  There is no charge for these services although many families who are able make a donation.  Hospice Support Services will help over 200 patients this year on the Northern Neck.     

Both medical and support Hospices, like those sponsoring the Turkey Shoot, provide what most people say they want in their final days: the option to remain in their own home but still get medical attention, pain control, spiritual and emotional support, and help for their family members.

I hope you will join me as a skipper of a sponsored boat.  We look forward to seeing you, October 10 to 12.                                       

                                                                Sincerely,

Allan Young

Attachment  ----

To enter your boat as a fundraiser boat, please do the following:

Note: The sample letter is written to raise funds for the Northern Neck Hospice. If you prefer, you may raise funds for the Middlesex or Riverside Hospices and designate that on the package.

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Dear (insert name here)

I will be competing in the Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta against skippers and crews on more than 100 sailboats on October 10–12, 2008. The Turkey Shoot is the largest of the 25 or so Hospice Regattas held nationwide and the only one for classic boats.

I will be sailing in support of the Hospice volunteers and professionals who have helped hundreds of patients in the Northern Neck in just the past year.  For thirteen years the Turkey Shoot Regatta has been the major source of financial support for Hospice Support Services of the Northern Neck. 

In more recent years the regatta has also contributed to Riverside Hospices of Gloucester and Tappahannock who also work in the Northern Neck as well Hospice Support Care of Middlesex County.    

The "Turkey Shoot," helps the hospices provide what most people say they want in their final days: the option to remain in their own home but still get medical attention, pain control, spiritual and emotional support, and help for family members.

I am inviting you to help me raise funds for this charitable activity and to come and cheer us on to victory!!!

Over the next weeks, my crew and I are asking family, employers, coworkers, corporations and friends to help us reach our goal of $2,000 (or enter some other goal). You can help the sailors aboard (your boat name here) by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta. 

We will be sailing not only to help those in hospice care, but also in memory of friends and loved ones we have lost in the last year.  (Please let me know if you would like names of friends and loved ones entered on the memorial sail we create at each year’s regatta.)

Any amount you can donate will be greatly appreciated.  We hope you can help.

Warmest regards,

Yes, I want to sponsor (sailor’s or boat name here ) who is supporting the work of hospices in the Northern Neck.  Enclosed is my donation of_______. 

Please enter the donation in memory of

____________________________________________________.

Donors name and address 

Please return this form

and donation to: 

Make checks payable to Hospice Support Services

of the Northern Neck, Inc.

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