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Archery fundraiser aims to support Kuenzl family

If there's one place Doug Kuenzl would rather be, it'd be with a bow and arrow on the archery range. Or hunting. Or with his rod and reel fishing. Or on the golf course too.
Kuenzl family
Doug, Shadae,16, and Miranda Kuenzl are seen here at one of the many archery events they attend as a family.

If there's one place Doug Kuenzl would rather be, it'd be with a bow and arrow on the archery range.

Or hunting. Or with his rod and reel fishing. Or on the golf course too.

He's at the Silvertip Archers indoor range on Austin Road in the Hart Tuesday and Thursday nights.

His 16-year-old daughter Shadae is there four nights per week aiming at the target, honing her skills, those that took her all the way to a bronze medal at the 2014 B.C. Winter Games in Mission.

Doug is always there for his wife Miranda, family and friends, willing to help out and never expects anything in return.

But last month the 37-year-old mobile technician for MasonLift Ltd. (a forklift services company) was given news that no one likes to receive - a cancer diagnosis.

It's terminal. And now the community is rallying together to support him and his family at the Kuenzl Family Fundraiser 3-D shoot this weekend at Heartland Stables off of Highway 16 and Shelley Road.

"It's terminal," said wife Miranda. "We're not sure when it'll happen. It's not treatable by chemo or radiation. We were told to enjoy life."

In March, Doug was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer (the same type that Steve Jobs died from). A 2.5-centimetre tumour, the primary tumour, was discovered in his pancreas after a visit to the emergency room for indigestion in late February. Numerous tests including CT Scans and ultrasounds revealed smaller tumours in his liver. It had spread.

Doug is following a treatment path of hormone therapy - taking a hormone pill daily as well as receiving a hormone injection every month - to prevent the spread of the disease.

"It's been a learning experience for Doug," said Miranda. "Obviously we were very hopeful that it would be something else, but he started treatment right away at the cancer clinic. All the doctors and nurses have been great."

Doug and Miranda have been together for 15 years, tying the knot in 2006. They've been in Prince George for five years, moving to the city from Kamloops.

It's not the first time the couple has dealt with cancer. Miranda herself has been fighting a rare form of skin cancer for the last nine years. While it's not a fatal type, she's managing it.

They've also dealt with tragedy. Their daughter Tamika Marie died of Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome in 2001 when she was 18 months old.

When word spread within the archery community about Doug's diagnosis and prognosis, the Silvertip Archers started planning - they don't want the Kuenzl to worry about the future.

Miranda is not working and is looking after Doug.

Shadae is a Grade 10 honour roll student at Kelly Road secondary. She wants to earn her nursing degree and become a registered nurse.

The archery club organized a 3-D shoot and silent auction that's open to everyone.

"Within a matter of three days there were 40 people lined up ready to knock on doors (asking for donations)," said Miranda. "The community support has been overwhelming. Doug has been overwhelmed by it. We're used to helping others out. I can't believe the support we've received.

"MasonLift is making sure Doug is being looked after and supporting him as much as possible.

The two-day shoot begins around 9 a.m. on Saturday with two rounds of shooting and one on Sunday.

People can take aim at between 70 to 90 targets. The registration cost is $15 per round for adults and $10 per round for children under 16.

Door prizes, ice cream pail raffles, 50-50 draws, and silent auctions are available with 100 per cent of proceeds goes directly to the family.

For those who can't attend the fundraiser, an online Go Fund Me campaign has been established. The page, called The Kuenzl Family Devastation, can be found online at http://www.gofundme.com/nfsd4s

A Facebook page, Kuenzl Family Fundraiser Shoot, has also been created.