Special
Event Stories
CurePH Texas Legacy Golf Tournament
October 2, 2009
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Jim and Debbie Wilson on the Bridlewood Golf Course |
By Jim Wilson, tournament director
After a night of torrential rain and tree-uprooting gusts of wind, Oct. 2 dawned bright and sunny for the CurePH Texas Legacy Golf Tournament. Aided by a volunteer staff of patients, caregivers and friends, 63 golfers enjoyed a glorious day at the Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound, Texas. The festivities continued into the evening with auctions, raffles and a buffet dinner of Texas barbecue.
Adrienne Dern, Vice President of PHA, addressed the diners and expressed PHA’s gratitude to everyone involved in planning the event and the sponsors who help make such events possible. She commented that the upbeat spirit of the crowd reflected the spirit of PHA’s community which comes together in so many ways to advance our shared cause.
Jim Wilson, tournament director and husband of PH patient Debbie Wilson, Jim Wilson, tournament director and husband of PH patient Debbie Wilson, is happy to report the event’s successes will translate into vital support for PH research. Despite the challenges of securing sponsorship, the Wilsons’ community stepped up to help make the tournament happen.
“We rescheduled the event for October, redoubled our efforts to secure sponsors and prayed that the weather would cooperate that late in the season,” Jim Wilson said. “Our desire was to continue the 10-year legacy of CurePH golf tournaments in Texas. In our planning meetings, we continually emphasized the importance of working your personal, professional and social networks.”
“The support of family and friends is so important to any undertaking like this,” Debbie Wilson said.
Dr. Fernando Torres, Director of the PH program at University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center hosted committee meetings at his home and helped with focusing the group’s efforts.
“Volunteers are the backbone of this effort,” Torres said, “and special thanks should go out to Jim and Debbie, Allyson Nelson, Tammie Smith, Dee Robertson, Valerie Roberts, Laura Corzine, Rocky and Karen, Marianne, Kevin Ovens, Amy Fusco, Mike McIver, Thomas Abalos, Marcia Beverly, Richard Charanza, Susan Barnes, Rich VanDiver and Fred Allen.”
Among the corporate sponsors ensuring the event’s success were United Therapeutics, Actelion, Pfizer, Accredo Therapeutics, TEVA Pharmaceuticals, CuraScript, Gilead and Caring Voice Coalition. Local companies fielding teams and lending their support included the Fred Allen Group, Encore Bank and Trust, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Johnson Medical Associates and Gardere Wynne Sewell.
Planning for next year’s event is already under way, with committee member Fred Allen taking the lead and vowing to best this year’s success.
