Volunteers with Mower County Habitat & Pheasants Forever Chapter #670 present a $3,000 donation Friday to support breast cancer research at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota.

Paint the Town Pink Director Kathi Finley (far left) and Dr. Margot Cleary, a section leader at The Hormel Institute who studies breast cancer, accept the gift on behalf of The Hormel Institute from (left to right) Pheasants Forever chapter president James Surdy; past president/co-founder David Hagen; and member Toby Hovelsrud.

Mower County Habitat & Pheasants Forever Chapter #670 raised the funds through its first “Hunt for a Cure” event Oct. 3 at Three Arrows Hunting Preserve near LeRoy, drawing more than 40 pheasant hunters. Proceeds from the hunt will go 100 percent directly into breast cancer research and count toward the 6th annual Paint the Town Pink initiative to raise awareness and support for The Hormel Institute’s research.

“We all have been affected by cancer at some time in our lives,” Surdy said, “and we felt that this was a great way to enjoy something we love doing – pheasant hunting – and simultaneously raise much-needed funds that will support The Hormel Institute’s breast cancer research.”