Carla is employed by the City of Coralville Building & Engineering Departments as the Administrative Assistant. She was asked to join Aiming for a Cure during the beginning stages in the fall of 2003. Within 6 months 20 committee members formed this awesome foundation with the inspiration of Ben Ries and his family.

What I love most about our Foundation is that we raise money to help ease the financial burdens of families who have children that are being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Iowa in Iowa City. Not only does this help families locally, but it serves families from all over the world that are here for pediatric cancer treatments. Ben has touched my life in so many ways. What I admire most is that Ben was a fine example to all that knew him and that I saw him achieve the strength that is gained by Faith, Family and Friends. I hope to achieve that gift someday and share it as he did. He did his family proud!
Carla is the organizing front runner of the Friday night Welcome Party, the meals at Highland Hideaway Hunt Club and the Banquet & Hotel accommodations.

Carla & her husband Curt live in rural West Branch farming crops, raising hogs & training GSP dogs. They recently started a Boarding Kennel and are also raising quail.

They have four grown sons, Blake, Jay, Ben and their oldest son Matt and his wife Jenny & their children Christopher & Mya.

In her spare time she hunts with her GSP dog Wahine, and boats on the Cedar River. She is also an avid fossil, Indian artifact and mushroom hunter.

• VP Iowa State Bank & Trust Co.

• Age 48, Solon Iowa

I am a Systems Engineer at CEC where I have been employed for the last 28 years. Most of that time I spent in our Iowa City office but now reside in the corporate office located in Hiawatha, IA.

My reason for becoming a part of Aiming For A Cure is as follows.

I was invited to lunch with friends where we always talk either about hunting or training our dogs, when Steve brought up the discussion about how to give something back to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network for all they have done to help him and his family during their son’s battle with cancer.

I myself have been very fortunate that my family has not had to endure such a battle. But my time at CEC had landed me in many of the hospitals and health care facilities across Iowa. I have seen many families struggle, and I have also seen the comfort that a quality healthcare staff and a program like CMN can give to a family.

Everybody at the table that day for lunch was a hunting dog owner and loved the sport of upland bird hunting.

Seamed like a natural fit; hunting, dogs, and friends, for charity.

After many meetings and getting more people involved the rest is history.

We all are now Aiming For A Cure.

Lisa Baum directs Children's Miracle Network at the Children's Hospital of Iowa. She knows the blessing of getting up each day and embracing her work. Lisa has enjoyed the integrity of Aiming for a Cure committee people and the dedication it takes to produce a successful fundraising event. "It takes hearts and hands to successfully provide a healing environment.  Ben Ries took the challenge of a brain tumor in stride. I'm thankful to have met him and to see my own growth through his courage."

Wade Wamre is employed at Hall and Hall Engineers in Hiawatha, Iowa as a Professional Land Surveyor. He has been involved with Aiming For A Cure Foundation since the beginning. Steve asked him to become involved with a plan he had to raise awareness and money for children with cancer, and Wade greatly accepted the challenge to help such a great cause. Wade enjoys spending his time with his boys hunting, fishing and doing hunting trials with his dogs.