THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607250161
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG
LENGTH: 80 lines
Ten-year-old Justin Thatcher says he didn't mind too much when all his hair fell out six years ago after undergoing chemotherapy. After all, he got to wear his favorite Ninja Turtle cap in school every day.
Justin has long since traded in the Ninja Turtles cap for another - a golf cap - and he has added a shoulder bag and clubs.
The youngster, who endured three years of treatment in and out of the hospital for a form of leukemia, now sports a full head of reddish-brown hair, freckled cheeks and a bright smile. He hasn't been hospitalized in more than three years, and his battle is down to twice-yearly visits.
On July 18 and 19, Justin and his dad were thinking less about battling cancer, as they have done since Justin was diagnosed six years ago, and more about that next putt. Justin was one of 138 young golfers who turned out to play in the Kids Golf Fore Kids Junior Golf Tournament at Broad Bay Country Club.
The Thatchers were grateful for the chance to give back something to the hospital through the fund-raiser. Justin was given only a 30 percent chance of growing up to lead a healthy, full life when he was diagnosed with cancer in 1990. Now the odds are on his side, and his father attributes a great deal of the credit to the doctors and nurses at King's Daughters.
This year's second annual golf tournament raised almost $11,000, according to co-chairpersons Susan Ingham and Connie Nowak. Last year's inaugural event, which raised about $7,500, drew 108 young golfers. This year, 138 came to play, and 60 more were on a waiting list.
Ingham and Nowak are part of the 20-member Circle of Hearts of the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters, the volunteer organization behind the building of the original Children's Hospital in Norfolk.
Several children in this year's golf tournament had stories to tell of their hospital involvement.
Cody Smith, 13, was there to show his appreciation for the people who replaced his little sister's hips last May.
Justin Carter will turn 11 this November. He was born one of triplets, each weighing less than 3 pounds. His tiny brother James died after struggling for two months. Justin and his sister Amanda gained weight and went home after four months of care from King's Daughters. On the day of the tournament, Amanda was at home in Williamston, N.C., playing in the finals of a district softball competition.
James E. Carter describes his children as healthy and active and humbly acknowledges that ``a lot of that is due to the quality of the care they received those first four months.'' Justin has been playing golf for about a year now. ``I heard about this tournament and I knew I had to go,'' he said. ``This will be an annual event for us,'' his father added.
Though the children served by King's Daughters may be the biggest winners from this tournament, everyone involved found their participation personally rewarding.
``I wouldn't miss this for the world,'' said Broad Bay head golf pro Paul Gallant, smiling through the sweaty day. Gallant's country club has been one of the tournament's most generous patrons. All fees and reimbursements for services and supplies were waived, allowing all entry fees ($40 for 12- to 18-year-olds, $30 for 11 and under) and all funds raised to go directly to King's Daughters.
Many tournament patrons were prominently recognized on signs posted at the event, while others were content to remain anonymous. One woman called and specifically requested to directly sponsor kids who would not otherwise be able to play. She was put in touch with Al Hatten of Tidewater Youth Golf, which runs a program for inner city youth.
One of Hatten's 14 players at this year's tournament was Maya McGowan, who teed off with a 175-yard drive. McGowen, who hopes golf will one day be her entrance to college, enjoyed being able to help someone else in return.
``We know this is for a good cause,'' she said. ``It's kind of refreshing that we're playing to help kids feel better and get healthier. We're playing for fun, too.'' MEMO: For more information about the Kids Play Fore Kids Junior Golf
Tournament, call Susan Ingham at 486-5824 or Connie Nowak at 481-3043. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
Ten-year-old Justin Thatcher, a former cancer patient, putts at
Broad Bay Country Club.
Cody Smith, 13, played golf to show his appreciation for the people
who replaced his little sister's hips last May. by CNB