Wet weather doesn’t dampen spirits
Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/50472/
BELLA VISTA — The rain didn’t seem to dampen the spirit of the Cancer Challenge Golf Tournament held in Bella Vista on June 22 -23.
The four-person 18-hole scramble event took place on three different golf courses: Berksdale, Dogwood and the Bella Vista Country Club.
Although the tournament had around 700 golfers competing for prizes, such as a 2007 Pontiac G 6 Sedan for a hole-in-one, the atmosphere contained more camaraderie than competition, said Kevin Hurt, a member of the T. Marzetti Company golf team.
Hurt said his team has been participating in the event for more than years. “ It’s the right kind of charity, ” he added.
The golf tournament serves as one of many events to help the Cancer Challenge organization reach their fundraising goal of $ 1 million this year.
Golfers were not the only ones present at the tournament. Many cancer survivors and caregivers volunteered to help with the event.
Don Persels, a cancer survivor and Cancer Challenge volunteer, said the golf tournament plays an important role in cancer research. “ It amazes me of what all they do, ” he said
Persels noted that it was research funded by events such as the Cancer Challenge that made his cancer removal surgery a success 12 years ago. “ I was pretty fortunate, ” he said.
Not everyone diagnosed with cancer is so fortunate, as fellow Cancer Challenge volunteer Mel Meister pointed out.
Meister said this year’s golf tournament is very special to him because his wife of nearly 64 years, Ruby, died from colon and liver cancer on April 9.
Mel said that he and his wife have been volunteering in the tournament every year, and she was looking forward to participating again this year.
This is one of the reasons why the Cancer Challenge has been raising money for the past 14 years. The fundraising events have been responsible for raising about $ 6. 4 million dollars for cancer research, treatment, and education since its inception.
For more information about the Cancer Challenge or to see the results of the events visit their Web site at www. thecancerchallenge. com.