Ron Smock, right, chairman of the 2014 Steve Dodds Charity Golf Tournament for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County, makes sure Matt Funkhouser, head golf professional and Tippecanoe Lake County Club, has plenty of entry forms for this years event. The golf tournament will return to Tippecanoe Country Club on Monday, Sept. 8. Teams will have a choice between an 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. tee time. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

The 2014 Steve Dodds Charity Golf Tournament for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County will once again be held at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. This year’s event will be on Monday, Sept. 8. Tee times will be 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. There is no scheduled rain date.

Every day someone learns a loved one, a friend, or a friend’s loved one is battling some form of cancer. When it strikes, the financial challenges for many become overwhelming and the basic needs of life become difficult to afford.

That is why this golf outing is important. All of the net proceeds go directly to patients and families to help with their financial challenges. Administered at no charge to the CCF by the K21 Health Foundation, over $82,566 was paid out in 2013 to cover basic needs such as mortgages, rent, food, utilities, prescriptions, wigs, insurance, motels and car payments.

The golf event raised over $25,000 of that amount.

Since its beginning over 14 years ago, individuals and their donations have helped raise over $2.5 million and assist over 850 clients. The mission of the group is: “Dedicated to reducing the challenges facing cancer patients and their families by financially assisting them during their fight.”

The goal for this year’s golf committee is to reach 60 teams and 120 hole sponsors. A business or individual becoming a hole sponsor can be equated to paying someone’s utility bill.

Participating in the $5,000 putting contest, at $20 per two-man team or par 3 contest, at $10 per individual, could pay for someone’s medication. Entering a four-person team in the event, $500 per team, could pay for someone’s motel bill as they travel for treatment. The more participants in a fun day of golf at Tippy Lake, the more friends and neighbors in Kosciusko County fight the financial crisis of cancer. Other golf day events include mulligans at $10 each, golf grenades at $5 each an team skins at $20 per team.

Entering a team in the golf tournament includes green fees, golf cart, breakfast for the morning players, lunch for all players and hors d’oeuvres for the afternoon players.

Entry forms are available at Tippecanoe Country Club or on the K21 website, www.k21foundation.org, to register online.

Individuals interested in becoming a hole sponsor can contact the K21 Health Foundation or contact event chairman Ron Smock at [email protected] or 574-453-8588. Smock can also provide more information.

The golf tournament is just one of a number of events the volunteers of the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County work diligently to organize. These events keep the fund endowed, as a resource for patients and families in the community. Idol Nite at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, The Gala and golf outing at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club and various independent fundraisers that have donated their money back to the CCF, have raised over $2.5 million and helped over 850 clients since it began 14 years ago.