The Ladies’ 9-Hole League at Inlet Golf Club hosted their Charity Golf Scramble supporting Bladder Cancer Awareness on Wednesday, July 24th. The event was held in honor of Judy J. Hitchcock, a member of the 9-Hole League, who lost her four-month battle with bladder cancer on July 21, 2012.
The golf tournament raised a total of $3,366 with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network receiving $3,112 and an additional $254 going to the local Hamilton County Hospice.
The maximum of 64 golfers signed up for the event, which included 34 women and 30 men, with more interested golfers on a waiting list. Over 70 golfers and non-golfers attended the awards luncheon and Chinese Auction that followed.
While the focus of the day was on the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN.org) and its important mission of raising awareness about bladder cancer, providing educational resources and support and advancing research, the day was full of fun, laughter, friendly competition and the celebration of life.
Judy Hitchcock’s children, Dan, Jennifer, Dede and Lori with guest bartender Ken Gabler and event chairman Gail Damon
The golf format was a two-person scramble. The Women’s Lowest Scramble Score, after a match of cards, was won by Shirley Delmarsh and Beulah Heroux with a score of 41. The team of Lucy Long and Kathy Vogel, with the same score of 41, came in second place.
The Men’s Lowest Scramble was won by Bob Philipson and Brad Damon with a score of 31. With a score of 33, earning second place, was Tim Pope and Jason Fraizer.
The Women’s Longest Drive went to Theresa Pope. The Men’s’ Longest Drive went to Tim White. Women’s Closest to the Pin was awarded to Mary Lamphear. Men’s Closest to the Pin was Jim Regan.
Additional awards were given. Fewest Putts, with the same 10 putts each were the Women’s team of Marie Reidel/Betty Button and the Men’s team of Tim Pope/Jason Fraizer. The Most Birdies Award went to Brad Damon and Bob Philipson with three birdies on the nine holes.
In addition to the entire $20 golf registration that went directly to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, money was raised through a 50/50 raffle where the winner Teresa Pope donated her winnings back to the charity.
The Chinese Auction, with its traditional “Make It, Bake It, Sow (Sew) It, Grow It, Buy It, Donate It” format accredited to Betty Button, generated additional money that went to BCAN.
Heather Levi and The Cousins That Care graciously accepted the Ladies League’s invitation to participate by making and selling beaded Bladder Cancer Awareness bracelets and anklets. Shelby Townsend, Shawn Hansen, and Bryce Ste-Marie came, sold, and donated $40 to BCAN.
After the golf, with the Hitchcock family’s approval, a “Have a Cosmo With Judy” Bar (her favorite birthday drink) was open through lunch to raise money for the Hamilton County Hospice which supported Judy during her last days.
Frozen cosmos and non-alcoholic cosmopolitans were served by guest bartender Ken Gabler, sporting one of the cancer survivor stickers that were available to recognize and celebrate all the other cancer survivors in the day’s events. We thank Ken, not only for agreeing to be our guest bartender, but for donating all of his tips received that day into the proceeds for the hospice.
Starting with Ken only begins a very long list of “Thank You’s that are due. So much of the success of this event is due to the tremendous generosity and donations of so many people.
Unlike the many past years, when the Ladies 9-Hole League relied upon the Susan B. Komen for the Cure Foundation, this year’s Bladder Cancer Awareness event was breaking new ground. As tournament chair, I was fortunate to receive support and guidance from Virginia Hunter, Program Coordinator with BCAN.
They provided important Bladder Cancer Awareness literature and their Awareness bands. Their website provides national support for Bladder Cancer Awareness and will be including recognition of our local event.
Next, I need to give thanks to my co-chair Sue Dowling, my tournament mentor Mary Jane Lasher, our League President Jennifer Blakeman and our Treasurer Marge McCabe. Without their help end experience, this undertaking would have been impossible.
A special thank you to the Inlet Golf Club and the Lind family—Roger and Margie—for donating the Pro Shop prizes, Margie for her wildflower arrangements on the luncheon tables, Marty for acting as our diligent scorekeeper and Dick Klinski, his assistant.
The entire IGC staff needs to be recognized for keeping the course in excellent shape, in spite of the less than perfect weather conditions—with special thanks to Bob Heneka and Melissa Sheldon on the day of the tournament for getting us organized and out on the course.
The Ladies 9-Hole League worked within its very limited budget and maximized monies raised due to the generosity and donations of many within the League, within the Hitchcock family and within the local community.
Recognition for their support of the event itself goes to John Hameline (Mulligans) for the morning coffee, The Donut Shop and Sue Dowling for the morning donuts, Marie and Jim Reidel for the golf cart balloons and goodie bags, Lucy Long for the Bladder Cancer Awareness bands in the bags, Dede Ste-Marie for the Bladder Cancer Awareness car magnets in the bags, Dan Hitchcock (Dan’s Big-M Foodland) for the bottles of water on the carts and the ingredients for the cosmos later, McCrath Beverages and Karam Produce for the remaining Cosmo ingredients, the Woods Inn for the loan of table linens, and all the volunteers that gave of their time to help before, during and after the day of the event.
The list of event volunteers (of whom I apologize for missing a name or two) included Jennifer Blakeman, Brad Damon, Monica Frackelton, Mary Jane Lasher for helping set up the night before the event, Marie and Jim Reidel joining the set-up team very early the morning of the event, Marge McCabe, Sue Gillum, Marlene Humphrey, Jan Throne, Maureen Regan for handling the registration desks, Sue Dowling for organizing the Chinese Auction and getting things organized while the rest of us golfed, Monica Frackelton for staying behind as well.
Many of the same names, along with Laura Klinski, helped sell 50/50 Raffle and Chinese Auction tickets and worked the Chinese Auction itself. Thank you to Dede and Bryce Ste-Marie for helping the auction announcers get us quickly through the many donated items.
The donations for the Chinese Auction came not only from the “Make It, Bake It,…” participants, but from the following local businesses: ADK T-Shirt Factory, The Adirondack Reader, Community Bank, The Donut Shop, French Louie’s ADK Sports, Old Forge Hardware, Seventh Lake House, Tamarack Café/Putter-fingers, T’s Ez-Mart, and Zone 3.
A special thank to local craftsman Richard LaPorte for donating his handmade Adirondack rustic table.
Mentioned last, but not least, a big thank you goes to John Hameline and his staff for providing us with our delicious Mulligan’s luncheon and Greg O’Hara, our event photographer, and Dave Scranton who also came to capture many, many precious moments of the day.
I join the Hitchcock family and the Ladies League in thanking you for honoring Judy, a very special lady, and for helping raise Bladder Cancer Awareness so that others may be counted among the survivors.
