August 24, 2006

NEWS BRIEFS

Foundation to hold golf tourney for cancer research, education

The sixth annual Michael Gard Golf Classic is scheduled for Sept. 14 at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club.

The fund-raiser is a tribute Michael Gard, who suffered and died from colorectal cancer. The fourth most prevalent cancer and leading cause of cancer deaths, the Michael Gard Foundation’s goal is to significantly reduce colorectal cancer through education and early detection. Each year more than 130,000 people are diagnosed with the disease and more than 55,000 die annually.

Besides being a great day of fun on the links, the annual tournament is the Michael A. Gard Memorial foundation’s source of income for the past five years, with funding coming through hole sponsorships, auction items and personal donations. At the end of the one-day tourney participating golfers are invited to attend a banquet to enjoy good food, awards and a recap of the day’s events.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to coordinate and support research aimed at finding a cure for cancer as well as non-intrusive techniques for detection. Early detection is crucial to treating cancer and this year, the Los Colinas Clinic in San Jose will receive tournament proceeds so people with no insurance can afford screening and other cancer tests that could save their lives.

Making a difference could have been Michael Gard’s life story. After a 20-year career coaching Little League baseball and Bobby Sox softball, Michael spent a number of years working with softball players at Almaden’s Leland High School. He also served as Leland’s Booster Club president and was always ready to help anyone who could “use a hand.”

The Foundation was instrumental in bringing the Colossal Colon to the San Jose area last spring to help teach people about the disease.

Four people attending the tournament will have the chance to win a $25,000 hole-in-one prize. Other prizes include a $5,000 putting contest, hole-on-one prizes and other contests and giveaways.

Cinnabar Hills offers golfers three distinct nine-hole courses. The tournament format will be a four-player scramble with contests and prizes. It is a soft-spoke club with appropriate dress codes in effect. For more information about the course visit www.cinnabarhills.com.

Following registration—from 9:30 to 11 a.m.—there will be a putting contest from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11 to noon when the tournament begins. A no-host cocktail reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and an auction and raffle beginning at 8 p.m.

Registration will be accepted through Wednesday, Aug. 29. The cost is $185 per person and includes a golf cart and range balls as well as lunch, dinner and a polo shirt. Non-golfer guest dinners are $50 per person. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come basis.

For more information, contact Jason Gard at (408) 268-6589.

Walk N’ Wag a barking success

The Humane Society Silicon Valley's fourth annual Walk 'N Wag fund-raiser was a barking success! Hundreds of dog lovers and their canine companions participated in the Aug. 19th walk-a-thon to help raise more than $60,000 for the shelter's animals.

Participants paid $25 to walk an interactive course with their dogs in Kelley Park in San Jose. Many walkers solicited pledges to help raise additional money for the shelter. Canines and their companions enjoyed everything from a doggie spa to costume contests, a Zoo to You animal wildlife presentation and bobbing for veggie dogs.

The Humane Society’s president, Christine Benninger, brought her basset hound Rose who was happily sporting a hat and bandana as the activities got underway.