Guild’s skeet shoot targets transplant patient needs

Published on Thursday, March 8, 2018

By: Ruth Cummins

Getting an organ transplant is expensive even with insurance, leaving patients and families to make up the difference.

For almost two decades, the University Transplant Guild at the University of Mississippi Medical Center has worked to bridge that gap with money raised from its annual fundraiser. This year’s event, the Southern Social skeet shoot and party, gets under way at 9 a.m. March 24 at Providence Hills Farm, 2600 Carsley Road in Jackson.

A VIP hour starts at 6 p.m. with a party to follow from 7-10 p.m. at the Renaissance at Colony Park with a band, drawdown, silent auction, tastings, food and more. The event’s signature sponsor is The Transplant Pharmacy in Flowood.

“We are excited about our second annual Southern Social,” said Theresa Anderson, the Guild’s president. “We had a record-breaking year with the first event and hope to be as successful this year, but we need the community’s support.”

Skeet shoot tickets are $300. Party tickets are $75 per person. Corporate and private sponsorships are available. A highlight of the evening will be a drawdown for $5,000; tickets are $40 each or three for $100 and can be purchased in advance from any Guild member or by emailing transplantguild@gmail.com. Private sponsor drawdown ticket purchases are buy one, get one free.

“The Transplant Guild is an incredible asset to our patients and does many things to aid in their access to and recovery from transplant,” said Dr. Mark Earl, associate professor of transplant surgery. “The Southern Social is an important way to raise money for the Guild so they can continue to do their wonderful work, and it’s a lot of fun.”

The Guild is a nonprofit organization that supports UMMC’s solid organ transplant and left ventricular assist device transplant patients and their families during times of need. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting University Transplant patients and families.

Support based on need includes educational, physical and pharmacological help. “This includes emergency expenses such as prescription costs or medical travel expenses,” Anderson said. “We are also looking into developing a housing program for patients and their caregivers when they are in town for procedures and recovery.”

UMMC’s kidney program, which on average transplants 130 recipients per year, was recognized in 2017 as one of the top 50 busiest programs in the country. The liver program in 2017 achieved a first for the Medical Center: the transplant of an adult split liver between two adult recipients, with a second performed early this year. This rare procedure was only performed at five transplant centers in the United States during 2016.

The Medical Center’s heart program in 2017 performed 17 transplants – four pediatric and 13 adult.

For more information, call (601) 984-1770 or email transplantguild@gmail.com. Click here to become a member of the guild.