"HOGS FOR THE CAUSE"

Hogs For The Cause was founded by Becker Hall and Rene Louapre as an idea to recreate the pig roasts so often encountered around the South. The original idea was to grab a pig, a keg, and spend the day on the Fly. Becker and Rene deviated slightly from this plan. Soon their discussions included using the pig roast to raise money. Things were moving along slowly and then we met Ben Sarrat, Jr. Meet Ben, Our Hero and Inspiration In November of 2008, 4 year old Ben was diagnosed with DIPG, an incurable killer. After meeting Ben and seeing his love of life in the face of such terrible circumstances, Becker and Rene decided to focus the first Hogs For The Cause on raising money to help Ben and his family. That first year was a success and Ben continued to battle DIPG, all the while with a smile and more often a joke. Tragically, Ben lost his battle a week before Hogs for the Cause 2010. Ben’s story only solidified Becker and Rene’s desire to do whatever they could to help families who are struggling with the financial burdens of taking care of a child with brain cancer. Hogs For The Cause enjoyed a breakout year in 2010, as approximately 2500 people showed up on beautiful March day to compete for the title of Louisiana’s pork champion. The crowds responded enthusiastically to helping choose the best dish by depositing donations into the piggy banks of their favorite teams. All told close to $30,000 was raised, with a portion of it going into a fund to provide support to families facing the fight of their lives. Following the 2010 event, Becker and Rene wanted to take the event to the next level. And they did. Hogs for the cause 2011 saw 50 teams battling in categories such as Whole Hog, Porkpourri, Ribs, and Shoulder. 7,000 people came through the gates to enjoy the sunshine and listen to music from acts such as the Radiators and Anders Osborne. At the end of the day $100,000 was raised to benefit families. 2012?s event is going to be even better so stay tuned, we aren’t done yet! And don’t forget that Hogs for the Cause is a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that your donations are tax deductible under the full amount as allowed by the IRS.