Tony Semple Foundation Brings Turkey Tracks Program To Mich.

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey and his parents

Eric Corey’s legacy lives on, as eight physically-challenged hunters who have been part of the Turkey Tracks program held each spring in Starke County travel to the small community of Millersburg, Mich. to hunt deer.

The trip was arranged by the late Eric Corey’s parents, Carol and Doug Corey, through the Tony Semple Foundation. Semple was a star linebacker for the Detroit Lions who established this foundation to help provide hunting activities for hunters with disabilities.

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Hundreds Attend Turkey Tracks Fundraiser

Posted on Author WKVI
Doug and Carol Corey welcome all to the fundraiser

Over 400 people turned out Saturday to support the Eric Corey Foundation in its Turkey Tracks fundraiser at the Washington Township Community Center.  With many of the physically handicapped turkey hunters in attendance, the event raised money for 35 individuals to go hunting with guides in April.

The event was the brainchild of the late Eric Corey who wanted to “play-forward” the experience of hunting that he had been given before he passed away of the ALS disease at the age of 25.

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Fundraiser Scheduled for Turkey Tracks Event

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

Eric Corey’s spirit will be alive Saturday night at the Washington Township Building in Starke County.

Eric was the inspiration for the Turkey Tracks annual hunt in Starke County in which physically challenged youngsters go into the woods to try to bag a turkey. 22 guides and volunteers met this week to map out the April event and prepare for the Saturday night fish fry and stage show.

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Funeral Services Held for Eric Corey

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey and his parents

With hundreds of hunters and others in attendance at the Knox Community Center on Sunday, the community said good bye to Eric Corey, of Knox.

Corey, 25, was the subject of many stories about his battle with ALS, his beating the odds for 10 years while hunting all over the world and setting up an event where other people with disabilities could enjoy the sport he loved so much. For three years, Eric and his family organized an event called Turkey Tracks and it grew every year with disabled people going turkey hunting with guides.

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Funeral for Eric Corey of Knox to be Held Sunday

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

He hunted from Canada to Africa, and he started an event called Turkey Trax so other hunters (young and old) with physical disabilities like himself could enjoy the sport that he loved– and because of the seriousness of his disease, he made his parents promise that they would carry on the event if and when he passed away.

Eric Corey died on Wednesday afternoon in his home in Washington Township. Because of the number of people he became friends with and inspired, his funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Knox Community Center.

M.C. Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the services.

Eric Corey Dies at the age of 25

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

The young man who inspired so many with his gallant fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease has passed away at the age of 25.

“There are few people that I call my hero, but Eric Corey was that to me,” said Ted Hayes. “I had the privilege of being with Eric during the Turkey hunt he and his family put together for disabled youngsters and old people alike.”

“An avid hunter himself, Eric had traveled the world hunting and four years ago he told his mother that he wanted to give others the chance to hunt that he had. The first year it was just a few, but over the past two years, the Turkey Tracks hunt grew and at the opening night ceremonies Eric Corey was always the happiest person in the room.”

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Hunters Sign-up to Participate in Next Spring’s Turkey Tracks Event

Posted on Author WKVI
WKVI's Ted Hayes talks with LaDonna Brock and her hunting experiences

The 4th Annual Turkey Tracks Hunt is coming up in April 2012. Eric Corey, who has Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has been instrumental in organizing a turkey hunt each year for handicapped hunters. Along the way he has met numerous people who have taken advantage of his generosity.

One of those people is motivational speaker LaDonna Brock, from Richmond, Kentucky. LaDonna got her first turkey last spring in this hunt and is back now trying to get her first deer.

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Turkey Tracks Event Scheduled for April 2012

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

With deer hunting season going on, we are thinking ahead to the Fourth Annual Turkey Tracks event that is scheduled for April 2012.

This event, organized by the Doug Corey family, is for disabled hunters and has grown three fold over the past three years.

Eric Corey talked what the event is all about.

“People with disabilities, handicaps and different diseases can get out in the outdoors and hunt for a weekend,” said Corey. “They can get their minds off hospitals and doctor’s appointments and let them have a good time.”

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Third Annual Turkey Tracks Event a Success

Posted on Author WKVI
Anthony Peterson is successful in his hunt. His guide was Rick Story

The Third Annual Turkey Tracks event was held over the weekend in Starke County. Opening night was Friday, and the hunters, guides, and well wishers gathered at the Knox VFW for a dinner, fellowship and entertainment provided by country singer, Billy Wayne.

During the ceremony that followed the dinner, Bass Pro Shops in Portage and Clarksville gave special monetary and tracker gifts to the participants. The Clarksville representative gave each of the hunters their own monogrammed turkey callers, and Eric Corey was presented with a one-of-a-kind caller in engraved box. The Turkey Tracks organization also received a $1,000 check for the program.

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Turkey Tracks Hunt Begins Saturday Morning

Posted on Author WKVI

The third annual Turkey Tracks hunting event gets underway in Starke County this weekend. The hunt allows physically handicapped youngsters to experience a turkey hunting experience with assistance from local Adopt-a-Hunter volunteers. Carol Corey outlines some of the events planned for the young hunters.

“They come to the Knox VFW Saturday morning before daylight to go out and find the turkeys coming off the roost and then in the evening, we invite all of our Adopt-a-Hunter volunteers and landowners there for a dinner. If you are an Adopt-a-Hunter or landowner, we would appreciate it if you would come and join us and meet our hunters.”

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Turkey Tracks Event to be Held this Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

The third annual “Turkey Tracks” hunting event to be held here in Starke County is set for this weekend. Organized by the Doug Corey family, Turkey Tracks allows physically handicapped youngsters to enjoy a hunting experience. The efforts are the project designed by the Corey son, Eric, who is afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

As in earlier years, local guides have volunteered to accompany the hunters into the field. Several local landowners have offered land for the shoot. Some of the youngsters, many who have never fired a gun, will be in wheelchairs.

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Turkey Tracks Event is Scheduled for April 29th-May 1st, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

At the young age of 16, Eric Corey was diagnosed with ALS. An avid hunter his entire life, the Starke County resident has made it his mission to make sure other young adults with mobility challenges like him can experience the joy of hunting. That’s why he and his family have organized Turkey Tracks. The event allows hunters with physical challenges to use adaptive equipment and the help of a guide to experience a turkey hunt in Northern Indiana.

This is the third year for Turkey Tracks.

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Turkey Trax Fundraiser Next Friday

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

In a few short weeks, the Turkey Trax event will be held in Starke County. This will be the third annual event that began when Eric Corey, who is confined to a wheelchair, asked his parents to organize a wild turkey hunt for other young people with similar disabilities.

Since that first hunt, the Turkey Trax weekend has grown into a huge event and this year, 25 young people will go out with local guides hoping to bag a turkey. The event will be held April 29th through May 1st.

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