If you are going to do something to support a worthy cause, why not make it fun at the same time?

Why not, for example, put a group of fun seekers in a gym in small town Montana, let a dodge ball game break out, and raise some money to help the town’s archery club team climb the next rung in a season of unprecedented success.

That’s the idea and the outcome of Saturday’s dodgeball tournament, which raised funds to help send the reigning state champion Trout Creek Archery Club to the National tournament later this month in Utah.

“This community has been really good, everyone has been so supportive of this effort,” said Becky Doyle, one of the organization’s ambitious staff.

During Saturday’s event, the group raised more than $800 in donations and dodgeball team fees from townsfolk who took part in the event, which was held in the gymnasium at Trout Creek School.

A total of eight, five person teams signed up for the event, during which competitors throw relatively soft “kickball” type rubber balls at their opponents with the goal of hitting the other team members and sending them to the sidelines for the rest of the game.

The team with the last player or players standing unscathed wins the game. Six balls are placed along the center line of the court, in this case basketball court, and at the sound of a whistle players rush to grab a ball without crossing the half court line.

Pandemonium and fun take it from there.

Teams donated $100 to take part in the event, which was won by the “Has Beens”, who came out on top of second place “Trout Creek Coaches” during the competition. Other teams, like the Northwest Ballers, sponsored by Northwest Builders LLC, and the “Naughty Pickles” sponsored by the Naughty Pine bar and grill, waged a lively war with games lasting anywhere from a minute or two to 10 minutes.

The Procrastinators, as might have been expected, finished last.

Trout Creek area resident Michael Boys, who was a member of a team who all wore tie-dyed shirts, said he was proud to be part of the fund raiser and of the community helping out.

“This was the first time I’ve played dodgeball since high school I think,” Boys said. “This is a fun and entertaining way to support a good cause. This is all about helping these kids”.

Those sentiments were echoed by Jerry Doyle, an archery coach who has been involved in Trout Creek area archery for more than 20 years. The current state champion team, which advanced to the National tournament by winning the Montana event earlier this year, has 22 team members.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Doyle said. “I don’t like getting hit, but I’m still pretty good at catching the ball (which puts the thrower out of the game). Archery is definitely near and dear to our hearts in this town”.

Doyle said the group also participates with the Montana BowHunters Association to promote safety and awareness of the sport.

The TCAC also hosts a camp each year to teach youngsters the right way to handle the equipment and learn about the sport.

“The Archery Club’s goal is to raise funds for the club and help the Trout Creek Archery middle school Montana State Champions raise money to go to the Nationals in Sandy, Utah,” said TCAC President Ruth Boyer. “Our club goal is to raise $5,000 to purchase equipment, bows, arrows, targets. We were created to promote archery opportunities for our Northwest Montana communities, especially with youth archery development”.

The group will be hosting a Burgers and Bows 3D Archery Tournament July 15 at the Naegli Ranch in the Trout Creek area.