Buy a beer, combat cancer at Bossier City brewery

Drink an Apple Pie Candy Shandy beer and help defeat childhood cancer. 

Flying Heart has partnered with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in its annual Brewing Funds the Cure campaign. The goal is to raise funds for research and efforts to fight childhood cancer. 

"We are in a unique position to be able to help organizations get their name out there through our platform and it helps the community gain some awareness of the nonprofits in our area," said Elizabeth Pattillo, Flying Heart's marketing director. 

NPCF's campaign runs through the end of September, which is the National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Participating breweries from across the nation create a signature beer to sell under the official Rising Hope brand. 

The beer will be sold at the breweries with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the foundation.

Flying Heart's Apple Pie Candy Shandy is the brewery's Rising Hope beer. It's available on draught for $7.50. 

By mid-month, Flying Heart had raised more than $2,000. It is aiming to break $5,000 by Sept. 30. 

To help achieve the goal, Flying Heart will host an event for singles to meet. "Dating Game, The Flying Heart Style" will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, in the brewery's taproom.

Every penny helps," said David Frazer, CEO of NPCF. "It costs about $15,000 to enter one child into a pediatric cancer trial."

NPCF's national goal is to reach $50,000 for the September campaign and $150,000 total in 2018. 

In 2017, the Brewing Funds the Cure campaign as a fundraising effort between the foundation, Cigar City Brewery and Brew Bus Brewing in Florida. It generated $30,000.

The organizers decided to reach out to other breweries across the country. Six more breweries signed on for 2018, including Flying Heart Brewing (Bossier City), Remedy Brewing Company (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and Gray Sail Brewing (Westerly, Rhode Island). 

The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation nonprofit organization was founded 27 years ago and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. 

The foundation raises awareness and funds to support pediatric cancer research that will lead to a less toxic, more therapeutic, faster cure for kids with cancer, Frazer said. 

The foundation raises funds through donors, corporate sponsors and "peer-to-peer programs," such as through the Brewing for the Funds campaign. Other campaigns include Fashion For the Cure, Walking For the Cure, Fishing For The Cure and Cooking For the Cure.  

"Everyday things that people have to do, we try to connect that activity to also raise funds and awareness and battle this horrible disease," Frazer said. 

Learn more about the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Brewing For the Cure at nationalpcf.org/rising-hope-ipa/.

If you go

What: Dating Game, Flying Heart Style

Where: Flying Heart Brewing, 700 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City

When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25

Cost: Free admission

Taproom hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Info: For more information call (318) 584-7039 or visit  facebook.com/events/1761356670649677/ oflyingheartbrewing.com/.