Pilots for Patients (PFP) is a ministry with the mission of providing free air transportation for patients needing diagnosis and treatment at medical facilities not available to them locally. The goal of PFP is to eliminate the burden of travel allowing the patient to concentrate on getting well.
PFP will conduct its Inaugural Live Catch Hog Tournament Feb. 21-22 at the Natchitoches Parish Fairgrounds. There will be a $3 per person gate entry admission charge. No charge for kids under the age of 12. There will be no charge for the participating teams. The “Weigh In” will be at the Natchitoches Parish Fairgrounds. Weigh In will begin at 3 p.m. Feb. 22 and all teams must be in line at that time. The tournament will have an 80-gun safe raffle, concessions, silent auction and a door prize.
A maximum of five hogs will be weighed and considered for each participating team. Participating teams are limited to four (4) persons and one (1) helper if they choose. All hogs have to be dog caught. The hogs must have been caught within the State of Louisiana. Hogs from out of state will not be eligible or considered in the tournament.
Buckles will be awarded for eight (8) categories. The categories are:
1. Heaviest five hogs, 2. Second heaviest five hogs, 3. Third heaviest five hogs, 4. Biggest Boar,
5. Biggest Sow, 6. Biggest Bar Hog, 7. Heaviest all natural stringer, 8. Determination buckle.
The Buckles are made by “Legends Tack & Silver.”
Raffle tickets for an 80-gun safe will be sold at around the beginning of the weighing in. Other raffle items include; Oklahoma Joe pellet grill, 4-wheeler winch, 2 flat screen TVs, Night at Margaritaville, Large Yeti ice chest, Pilots for Patients in-faced knife and a number of other items.
There will also be a silent auction for two (2) hunts—a Predator Hunt for two (2), and a Squirrel Hunt with hawks for up to ten (10) people. This will also which will start around 3:00 p.m.
For additional information contact Shane Lewter at (318) 347-9963.
Since the beginning of PFP in 2008 through 2024 approximately 900 patients have been flown to different airports using some 244 different pilots who have completed at least one mission. During that same period 8000 missions have been flown. Participating pilots provide their own airplane, fuel and time at no cost to patients.
All proceeds benefit Pilots for Patients, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides services in accordance with the mission stated above.
