The Bradways attend the annual law enforcement memorial service held in Indianapolis.

BOURBON — The parents of a slain law enforcement officer have been keeping themselves busy with projects designed to champion the efforts of other police officers and first responders, while also helping to keep their son’s memory alive.

Tom and Sheri Bradway, of Nappanee, will host an inaugural event on Sunday, Sept. 8 with just such a goal in mind.

A charity clay shoot with an auction and dinner will be held at the Back Forty Sports Clays & Event Center on 1010 9B Road, Bourbon. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with the event starting at 9:30 a.m. The dinner, auction and awards celebration will begin at 12:30 p.m.

The event will be used to fund the Bradways’ project known as “A Quilt For A Mother’s Tears.”

“We’re using it to keep the quilts going,” Bradway said. “We will also help those who are pursuing degrees in criminal justice.”

According to Tom Bradway, his wife creates quilts that are presented to the mothers of fallen law enforcement officers. She has assistance from women from all over the country, “but she does the final touches,” Bradway said. Since 2014, the charity has created approximately 900 quilts. “We’d like to see us go out of business, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen,” he said.

The Bradways were directly affected themselves when in September of 2013, their son, 1991 NorthWood High School graduate Rod Bradway, an officer with the Indianapolis Police Department, was mortally wounded in a shootout with an armed gunman who had taken a woman and child hostage. Police credited Bradway’s actions for the saving the lives of both hostages, as he returned fire despite taking a bullet in the chest. The gunman was hit multiple times by Bradway and later killed by another officer.

“It’s amazing how much these projects have also pulled us closer to law enforcement,” said Tom Bradway. “It’s a thing to keep his memory alive, and also to serve to let out some of the feelings you get about things like this over the years.”

Registration fees are due by Aug. 31. To participate, shooters will be charged $125 and teams will be comprised of four to six shooters.

For more information, call Tom or Sheri Bradway at (574) 773-7502 or email at [email protected].