Elaine Gebhardt, Executive Director of the New England Golf Course Owners Association, has played in the Golf Fights Cancer Golf Marathon seven times, but this year’s event was more personal than ever.
NORTHBOROUGH, Massachusetts – Golf Fights Cancer, an organization based in Norton, hosted its 15th Annual Golf Marathon on June 3-4 at Juniper Hill Golf Course to help raise funds for DetecTogether, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that teaches individuals how to detect cancer early and be active partners in their healthcare.
The Golf Marathon is a unique fundraising event where a group of dedicated golfers plays 100 holes of golf in a single day while raising thousands of dollars in the fight against cancer. For the first time ever, GFC organizers added a second day to the marathon with a record 85 golfers participating and raising $750,000. In 2020, the Golf Marathon raised $362,000 from 43 golfers.
The 2021 Golf Marathon brought together two organizations, Golf Fights Cancer and DetecTogether. Both are deeply committed to fighting cancer and saving lives. Funds raised during this year’s GFC event primarily benefit DetecTogether, a national nonprofit that teaches people how to recognize the earliest warning signs of cancer. “
When cancer is detected early, people have the best chance of surviving and treatment can be less invasive,” says Tricia Laursen, DetecTogether President & Executive Director. “Knowing what to watch for and when to act is lifesaving.”
DetecTogether brings its education to firefighters, young adults, and community groups for free, thanks to the generosity of supporters.
“The excitement for this year’s event is amazing, as is the collective power of our fundraisers,” said Brian Oates, GFC Chairman & Co-Founder. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see the impact that people who share a common interest can make in the fight against cancer.”
Golf Fights Cancer (GFC) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that taps into the passion and generosity of all golfers to raise much-needed funds for cancer-related organizations and families living with the disease. Specifically, GFC makes targeted donations for equipment, services, and/or amenities that make an immediate positive impact on treatment and the experience for both the patient and family.
DetecTogether is a 501(c)(3) addressing an unmet need in the cancer world. We teach people how to identify early warning signs of cancer to save lives. We do not know who will get cancer, but we do know that 40% of us will receive a diagnosis in our lifetime.
