Teddy Roosevelt is arguably North Dakota's favorite adopted son.

In the early 1900s, his vision to preserve and protect our nation's natural resources was founded in three basic principles: his deep appreciation for the use and protection of nature, his staunch belief in the important role of the military in our society and his dedication and concern for those who couldn't always provide for themselves.

North Dakotans, like Roosevelt, also have a tradition of caring for their neighbors.

When pheasant season rolls around later this month, the traditions of hunting, conservation and helping others will come together to benefit the Bismarck Cancer Center and its patients.

The cancer center, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, announced a major fundraising event Wednesday, "Hunting Dakota with Roosevelt."

Tweed Roosevelt, the great-grandson of the 26th president, will accompany a party of hunters with the goal of raising $100,000 for the Bismarck Cancer Center.

Jill Goetz of the cancer center's foundation, said since opening in 1999, the center has outgrown its facility on north Eighth Street and is now in the expansion mode.

Ken Dykes, executive director, said the center treats between 40 and 45 patients within a 250-mile radius each day and money raised will go toward maintaining the quality of care and services they are able to provide.

"We already have a premier facility, but maintaining it costs money," said Dykes, a cancer patient himself.

Dykes said one of the primary missions of the Bismarck Cancer Center is to provide not only medical treatment for cancer patients close to their homes, but also support for the patient's family in the way of temporary housing, assistance with transportation and meals and spiritual and emotional counseling.

Goetz said the Bismarck Cancer Center opened as a not-for-profit, collaborative venture between Medcenter One and St. Alexius Medical Center.

"By maintaining and expanding this facility and these services, we can improve ease and access for patients and their families and ensure the best and latest technology and treatment options are available locally," Goetz said.

As with many visions, the inspiration for a hunting adventure with Roosevelt to raise money to fight cancer came, sort of out of the blue.

Roger Krueger and Jon Hanson, both of Bismarck, were brainstorming.

The two are avid hunters as well as active as in the state's hunter education program; Krueger as a teacher and Hanson as the Game and Fish Department's coordinator.

Krueger said he's long been an admirer of Roosevelt's conservation philosophies that laid the groundwork for what is known today as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Krueger said the hunt, slated for Oct. 17-19, will partner 20 donor-sponsors with 20 military personnel from North Dakota who have been deployed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.

He said the sponsors will have made a $5,000 donation or more to the cancer center.

The hunters, who will be split up into small groups, will be joined periodically by Tweed Roosevelt and Jim Posewitz, biologist and author.

Goetz said about half the sponsorships are spoken for and even if people are not hunters, they can still support the cancer center with their donations.

Krueger said as a former fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, he couldn't wait to become involved with the Bismarck Cancer Center's event.

He said the center is more than a facility that treats the disease of cancer.

"They treat the people with cancer. This place walks the talk."

Hanson retired with the rank of colonel from the North Dakota National Guard.

He said the response from everyone involved - landowners, sponsors and hunters alike - has been overwhelming.

"We've had about 30 calls from both Army and Air Guards … we've even had donors who can't be at the hunt call and say they want to sponsor a soldier."

The event kicks off Oct. 17 at the Bismarck Elks with a social and banquet.

Hunters will board buses the next morning for their hunting grounds on private land in western North Dakota, spending the night in Medora before hunting Oct. 19 and return to Bismarck.

Krueger said he's been amazed at the phenomenal response.

He said Roosevelt's legacy remains as strong today in North Dakota's people as it was more than 200 years ago.

"Teddy got people here to organize back then," Krueger said.

"We're hoping to carry on in that same tradition."

For information, contact Jill Goetz at the Bismarck Cancer Center, 222-6100 or log on to: www.huntingwithroosevelt.com.com.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring 250-8254 or brian.gehring@bismarcktribune.com.)