The 21st annual McGMO Charity Golf event aims to improve the lives of people fighting cancer by raising more than $40,000 to support Aurora Cancer Care patients. The annual fundraiser drew more than 170 participants July 27 at Delbrook Golf Course.
Dollars raised this year will help purchase rehabilitation equipment and enhance access to integrative therapies for Aurora cancer patients in Burlington, Delavan and Lake Geneva.
“It’s been 21 years, and the community still shows up for this annual event. It’s very humbling,” said Mike Grover, one of the founding members of the McGMO. “We started this event because we’ve either been touched by cancer personally, or we know someone who has. This is a great way to honor them and to support the care that cancer patients receive, right here in our own backyard.”
The McGMO was established in 1998 in memory of Dean McGregor, Ivan Grover and Calvin Monroe, who lost their battles with cancer, and Kim O’Keefe, a cancer survivor.
“As a survivor myself, I know how important these services are,” O’Keefe said. “To know that over the years, we’ve helped provide more tools for people to fight this disease, and give them comfort, that means the world to us.”
The event is supported by sponsors, volunteers and donors.
A silent auction took place, and a live auction featured a California trip, boat cruises, restaurant offerings, golf get-a-ways and Packer and Badger game tickets.
The weather for this year’s event was sunny and warm with a light breeze. The event included on-course games such as a par 3 contest, dice roll on par 5 holes and hole-in-one contests. Michael Elortegui, of Monterey, Calif., was participating for the first year and shot a hole-in-one to win a car from Kunes Country Ford. It was the first car won at the McGMO.
The first-place men’s group was composed of Mark Sell, Jim Sell, Steve Schreck, and Dan Stahlkopf. Second place went to Kim O’Keefe, Scott Christian, Gregg Rice and Tim Torkelson.
The first-place women’s group was composed of Denise Connelly, Katy Lamantia, Kathy Schrock, and Sue Augustine. Second place went to Sue Hughes, Linda Struhar, Betty Hanel and Laure Zulkowski.
First-place for mixed groups went to Frank Malartsik, Nick Draus, Jon Malartsik and Deb Bassett. Second place went to Liz Boss, Glenn Boss, Kurtis Boss and Molly Boss.
Mike Hite from Oklahoma, a long-time McGMO supporter, was awarded the 2018 McGMO Angel of Hope award.
Over the past 21 years, the McGMO has donated more than $1 million to support local initiatives that provide comfort to cancer patients during their treatment and recovery.
