CEDAR RIVER — This year the Cedar River BridgeWalk will also include Sportsmen With Heart Inc. in its fundraiser efforts, along with the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Cedar River Chapel.

Creator, organizer and CEO of Sportsmen With Heart Inc., Jim Phillips, began the organization after living the ordeal of a parent with a child having a brain tumor. Jim’s daughter was diagnosed with the brain tumor at age 3.

“She was having multiple seizures, she couldn’t play, couldn’t swing on a swing, couldn’t swim, her childhood was stolen from her,” Phillips said.

He recognized the need to help restore childhoods.

Phillips created the 501 3(c) nonprofit charitable organization in 2015 to achieve his goals and conditionally uses a 21 acre 25-site campground in Athelstane, Wisconsin, which the organization calls Dream Camp Wisconsin. Dream Camp is very near High Falls Flowage on the Peshtigo River and Newton Lake for fishing and swimming opportunities for the kids. Sportsmen and other volunteers spend their time teaching and helping the children enjoy the great outdoors of the area.

Sportsmen With Heart Inc offers families all it does for free and is funded by donations and fundraising events. Cedar River BridgeWalk will be holding bucket raffles for the cause.

The Cedar River BridgeWalk is the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, which is on September 3, and will begin with music at 10 a.m. CDT at the Cedarville Township Hall on the north side of Cedar River on Old Mill Lane and across from the marina at the Cedarville Township Hall and Volunteer Fire Department

Opening ceremonies for the BridgeWalk will start at 11 a.m. CDT, with the walk beginning shortly after.

BridgeWalkers will find festivities and various vendors on the south side of the Cedar River Bridge.

A newly formed band The Da knocks will continue music at about 11:15 and will be followed by Crooked Creek in the backyard of the Halfway.

Bucket and 50/50 raffles will take place throughout the day.

Hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, draft beer, and pop will be available at the festivities.

Proceeds from donations, raffles, food, drink, and t-shirt sales will go to Sportsmen With Heart, the Cedarville Volunteer Fire Department, and the Cedar River Chapel’s Community Helping Fund.