Golf event raises money for pancreatic cancer research, awareness

The Griffith Family Founda-tion/Sideline Pancreatic Cancer Youth Initiative hosted its sixth annual Tee off for a Cure to Sideline Pancreatic Cancer at Scotch Valley Country Club on Aug. 18.

Portions of the $26,000 raised will fund the research efforts of Dr. A. James Moser, co-director of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School.

The Griffith Family Foundation has donated $260,000 to the research efforts of Dr. Moser since 2010.

Proceeds also support pancreatic cancer awareness through the Sideline Cancer Youth Initiative, which is the only youth-driven campaign in the world that enables students to use their philanthropic and entrepreneurial spirit to transform the outcome of pancreatic cancer.

Over the last six years, students have created and designed Sideline Cancer T-shirts and have sold more than 10,000 to surrounding schools and universities.

The Griffith Family Foundation is a member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, Digestive Disease National Coalition Washington, D.C., American Association of Cancer Researchers and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The foundation’s Sideline Cancer Basketball Team has also been participants in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in Philadelphia for the past four years, raising awareness on a global stage for the necessity of early detection of pancreatic cancer.

The signature sponsor for the golf tournament since its inception has been Shawn McCarl and employees of S.P. McCarl and Co. Inc and McCarl’s Preferred Services.

“The Griffith Family Foundation cannot thank Shawn and Kim McCarl enough for their dedication in our efforts to Sideline Pancreatic Cancer,” according to Cathy Griffith, president of the Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation Sideline Pancreatic Cancer Youth Initiative,

The golf tournament began in 2012 in memory of Greg Griffith, who passed away in 2011 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

A collaborative effort among family, community members and students created an ongoing successful fundraiser that brings people of all ages together for a day filled with fun and fellowship.

A total of 156 golfers took part in the tournament, with more than 100 sponsors and donors for the event.

The first-place team for the morning flight included Anthony DeGol, Andrew Carson, Jeff Sturkey and Michael Cohen.

The first-place team for the afternoon flight included David Snyder, Tyler Vincent, David Schraff and Jordan Griffith.

Skill prize winners were as follows:

Closest to the pin — Terry Campbell, men, morning session, Hole No. 2; Frank Wiley, men, afternoon session, Hole No. 2; Mimi Lopez, women, afternoon session, Hole No. 2; Tom Plunket, men, morning session, Hole No. 17; Susan Robinson Fruchtl, women, morning session, Hole No. 17; Sam Fiore, men, afternoon session, Hole No. 17; Chris Sisto, women, afternoon session, Hole No. 17.

Longest drive — Jesse Ottoway, men, morning session, Hole No. 9; Lisa Georgiana, women, morning session, Hole No. 14; Tyler Vincent, men, afternoon session, Hole No. 9; Michelle Day, women, afternoon session, Hole No. 14.

Longest putt — Larry Buchanan, morning session, Hole No. 10; David Schraff, afternoon session, Hole No. 10.

Straightest drive — Lisa Georgiana, morning session, Hole No. 16; Don Booth, afternoon session, Hole No. 16.

Putt for the Putter, sponsored by the Ed Smithe family — Danny Stubbs, morning session; Jordan Griffith, afternoon session.

Next year’s Tee off for a Cure will be held on June 22 at Scotch Valley Country Club. All are welcome to be participants or sponsors. To register, go to www.griffithfamilyfoundation

.org.

The ninth annual Griff’s Sideline Pancreatic Cancer Dinner will take place Aug. 17 at The Casino at Lakemont Park, Altoona.