By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The McGMO golf tournament was forced to alter course last summer due to the pandemic. On July 30, with some safety precautions in place, the tournament returned and raised more than $40,000 to provide comfort items for cancer patients.
The tournament got its start when its three founding members decided to honor their fathers, all of whom had died of cancer within six months of each other. The McGMO was originally named for Tim McGregor, Mike Grover and John Monroe. Later, Kim O’Keefe was diagnosed with cancer and the “O” was added. Grover said O’Keefe knew what was needed for comfort items for cancer patients because he had personal experience dealing with it.
“We still have the mission to provide comfort items and things to improve cancer patients’ lives,” Grover said. “It has been a passion of love for all of us.”
Grover said each year the tournament is like a family reunion as friends and family from all over the country participate. Last summer the group had a “non-event” and still raised over $23,000. He said the “McGMO family and friends” donated the money even without playing in a tournament but he, Monroe, Chuck Miles and Scott Whitman played a round of golf on the day the tournament would have been held as proof that COVID could not stop the McGMO.
Including last year’s non-event, the McGMO is in its 24th year. Grover said he enjoys helping run it because he is doing something that matters. He said he and the others are making a difference in the community and in the lives of people with cancer.
This year the McGMO returned to Delbrook Golf Course with a tournament, auction and dinner. The auction – after years of being a live auction because of the passing of Joe Almburg last fall – went digital so golfers were able to bid on items while they played. Grover said he attempted to call the auction in the first year but failed miserably, so Almburg, a professional, stepped in.
“He has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years,” Grover said. “No one did it better than Joe. He kept the crowd engaged and knew how to get the most out of each item to help the cause.”
In response to the lingering pandemic, there was more spacing of tables at the dinner this year, no assigned seating, contactless registration and social distancing when possible.
Meaningful partnership
The McGMO partnered with Advocate Aurora Health and its new cancer treatment center in Burlington. Aurora also has several rehabilitation clinics in Delavan and Lake Geneva.
“It’s been a blessing for cancer patients to not have to travel to Madison or Milwaukee for quality cancer care and rehabilitation after the treatment,” Grover said.
Advocate Aurora Health has been involved with the McGMO since its start in 1997, according to AAH president Robert Miller.
“In the early years of this wonderful relationship, the community co-sponsors gave to the Aurora Lakeland Vince Lombardi Cancer Center and continued when this entity moved to Southern Lakes where services continue today,” Miller said.
Miller said Aurora collaborates with the McGMO founding families annually to identify the greatest need to benefit the cancer clinic and their patients.
“As an organization, Aurora Health Care is well aligned with the McGMO mission of supporting local cancer patients along their journey to better health and quality of life,” Miller said. “Most important to the McGMO family sponsorship is keeping the money local and supporting their families, friends, and neighbors.”
The medical staff leadership council of Aurora Lakeland and Burlington donated $15,000 as a presenting sponsor to help get the event off to a good start, Miller said.
He said the event is a “wonderful opportunity” to continue the legacy of community partnership for a common objective for the community.
“The McGMO is so committed to supporting our patient needs with cancer care and Aurora Health Care is equally dedicated to patient care with our purpose of helping people live well,” Miller said.
Miller said the goal of the fundraiser is always to provide optimal care and treatment for many forms of cancer locally. The specific focus of the money raised this year involves rehabilitative systems to mitigate the side effects of various cancer treatments and to provide equipment and services that preserve patient dignity, reduced discomfort from treatments, and convenience items for patients to stay engaged and active during long treatment periods.
“It is truly inspirational to witness the collaboration between the McGMO sponsors, community members who support this initiative and Aurora Health Care,” Miller said. “Everyone is driven by the desire to make a difference in people’s lives.”
More than 150 golfers
The tournament was divided into three divisions: men, women, and mixed.
Using the Stapleford Points scoring system, the winning group for the men’s division included O’Keefe, Scott Christian, Tim Torkelson, Gregg Rice and Ron Jongetjes.
The group of Sue Hughes, Linda Struhar, Betty Hanel, and Kathy Palmer won the women’s division.
Liz Boss, Glen Boss, Kurtis Boss, and Molly Boss won the mixed division.
Grover said 152 golfers played in the tournament. Greenie’s provided a lunch of brisket sandwiches and burgers and a tenderloin or chicken dinner.
Every hole had a game with prizes. Games included hitting a drive off of a marshmallow, longest drive with someone else’s driver, closest to the pin, using the drive of the player with highest handicap, straightest drive, longest putt, longest drive in the fairway and using the drive of whichever golfer drew a joker.
The McGMO also honored a group known as the “California Contingent” with its annual “Angel of Hope” award. The group includes Shari Figi, Lisa and Doug Kreider, Alice and Ron Lando, Sandra and Tad Lebeck, Francine and Mike Slosser, and Shelia and Greg Spallas.
The group has attended in person in the past but every year supports the event with donations or hole sponsorships. Most of them went to UW-Madison with McGregor. The group’s members are originally from Wisconsin and now reside in the northern California bay area.
