The first annual Charity Cup Golf Tournament was held Friday, Oct 11, at the Bristow Golf Course. The tournament helped to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. There was a total 72 golfers participating in the 4man scramble. The teams vied for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finish as well as individual awards such as closest to the pin, longest drive and hole in one.
Lesco Builders, along with Stor-Mor Portable Buildings and First Choice Metals, were the main sponsors of the tournament. Lesco, a new business in Bristow, is located in the spot that once housed the rubber plant. They specialize in equipment rental, large and small, as well as portable buildings. In speaking with Troy Lester, CEO of Lesco, he said it wouldn’t have been the success that it was without the backing of the community and other local business sponsors. He said, “they really stepped up and was very supportive of the benefit.”
Darren Warren, CEO of Stor-Mor, says that this fundraiser is “near and dear to his heart”. You see, Darren is a St. Jude’s survivor. At the age of 16, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He endured 120 chemotherapy treatments over the next 2.5 years. During his stay, he told God, “if you let me out of this place, I’ll do my absolute best to help others get out.” And that is exactly what he has been doing for the last several years. Golfing for people in life and death situations.
At the time of the 1962 opening of St. Jude’s, the survival rate for children with cancer was 20%. Today, with the help of the monies raised for the research into childhood cancer, that rate is now 94%. Lesco and the Bristow community raised over $36,000 to help continue with this important research. To this, Lester says, “Thank you for the support and we look forward to serving the Bristow community in the coming years”.
Debbie Tribble photo