
DATE: Friday, August 8, 1997                TAG: 9708060149

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

BUNKER BLAST TAKES HOSPITAL'S FUND-RAISING BEYOND THE TEE

READY FOR A BLAST at the bunker?

No, we're not talking war reenactment.

Chesapeake General Hospital, the event's sponsor, is inviting the public to Chesapeake City Park on Tuesday for some serious bunker blastin' to help a community-minded cause.

The bunker in question is a sandtrap, not a concrete dwelling. And the blast goes with the fourth annual Chesapeake General Hospital Healthcare Foundation Golf Classic, which will be teeing off Tuesday at 8 a.m. and at 1 p.m. at Greenbrier Country Club. The tournament, usually a sellout, will raise funds for the hospital's Healthcare Foundation.

But event chairman T. Bruce Lowery said the post-tournament Bunker Blast at Chesapeake City Park should appeal to more than just golfers and duffers. It will appeal to anyone who likes to eat a lot of good food, dance to a popular area band, enjoy favorite beverages and help out a good cause.

``It's been our vision from the day we started this that we'd like to become as popular and as big as, for example, Sheriff Newhart's annual American Food Fest,'' Lowery said. ``Not everybody plays golf, but everyone eats, that's for sure. With this event, we can get more people to support our cause. We're hoping to eventually draw upwards of 800 people to our event.''

Lowery and Mary Barber, Chesapeake General Hospital development assistant and tournament coordinator, both said they have the food, entertainment and beverages to swing it.

``This Bunker Blast has grown consistently,'' she said. ``Each year we seem to get more public interest. We are getting more and more popular because we have the Greenbrier-area Lone Star SteakHouse to provide the food. They have a really good reputation in the area. I think that the restaurant here in Chesapeake is No. 1 in Virginia for the chain.''

The Lone Star people will try to secure donated food or at least provide food at cost, Barber said. She also said that the restaurant's staff will donate all of its time.

``Their employees are so gracious and helpful,'' she said. ``They're all very much involved in this tournament and are giving their own free time to help out.''

Lowery and Barber encourage Bunker Blast patrons to come hungry. The ticket cost will include all of the fresh cooked steak, chicken, chili and trimmings one can eat. Soft drinks and other popular beverages also will be available. In addition, Taboo Restaurant will donate freshly made margaritas.

And for those who want to work all of the that food and drink off, the popular area dance band Hot Cakes will provide its toe-tapping services for the good of the cause.

``It's money that will go to help the community,'' Lowery said. ``It offers some health services for those who can't normally afford them.''

Barber said the Healthcare Foundation is run by a 25-member board. It has been set up to raise money for the hospital's community-oriented services, including its hospice care, vacation diabetes camp for children, cancer services, special nurse training for the treatment of sexual abuse, Neighborhood Helper programs, community health fairs and free screenings.

Besides the golf tournament and Bunker Blast, Lowery said the Healthcare Foundation depends on the annual Jefferson National Bank/Chesapeake General Hospital/ sponsored tennis classic (Oct. 3-5) and the Nov. 19-22 Chesapeake Holiday Wonderland where scores of specially decorated trees and wreaths will be auctioned off.

Until those upcoming holiday events, though, Bunker Blast organizers are hoping Chesapeake citizens respond in droves to Tuesday's party.

``Since we hold this at Chesapeake City Park, we can accommodate any kind of growth,'' Lowery said. ``We hope to make this into one of the premier fund-raising events in the city. We're inviting all of Chesapeake to come out, have fun and support a good cause.'' ILLUSTRATION: WANT TO GO

What: Bunker Blast, sponsored by the Chesapeake General Hospital

Healthcare Foundation

When: 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday

Where: Chesapeake City Park, Greenbrier Parkway

Cost: $15 per person, includes all-you-can-eat food, beverages

and live musical entertainment. Corporations, clubs or businesses

can purchase a book of 10 tickets for $100.

Call: For tickets or more information, call Mary Barber at

546-6314. The golf tournament, with teeoffs at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.,

may have some last-minute openings. Call Barber at the above number

for any possible open slots.