Golf tourney again teeing it up to battle MS
Fifth annual Keep S’Myelin for Katie golf tournament raises funds for national society
WESTMINSTER » Julie Tucker is busy putting together the fifth annual Keep S’Myelin for Katie golf tournament, with proceeds benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The event, which will be held on June 26 at The Woods of Westminster golf course and sponsored by Advanced Glass and Mirror, is near and dear to Tucker’s heart. Her first experience with MS was with her father, who was confined to a wheelchair due to MS when she was born.
“I never saw my dad walk,” Tucker said. “He did have a great sense of humor which, I believe, is the reason he lived so long with this debilitating disease.”
He passed away at the age of 59, before any of Tucker’s children were born. As if that wasn’t enough pain for her and her family, Tucker’s own daughter Katie Hodge was diagnosed with Relapsing and Remitting Multiple Sclerosis six years ago during
her sophomore year at Fitchburg State University, just after she turned 20.
“This diagnosis was devastating to her because all she knew about MS was that her grandfather had it and was in a wheelchair within a year of being diagnosed,” Tucker said.
“She had a rough first year having three major relapses.” Tucker said her daughter is now on her fourth type of MS medication, one of the reasons why Tucker is also participating in the three-day, 50-mile Challenge Walk MS: Cape Cod this coming September for the sixth year in a row. She’s a member of Team Keep S’Myelin for Katie to raise MS awareness and funds towards research.
“Without people fundraising and donating, Katie would not have these different options for treatment,” Tucker said.
Team Keep S’Myelin for Katie, which is led by Hodge, has raised $48,000 over the past five years and the golf tournament has raised over $24,000 over the past four years for the National MS Society.
“The amount of golfers and money raised has increased every year which is so amazing,” Tucker said. “It means the world to me and Katie to have so many people — family, friends and many we don’t even know — come out to support us in our venture to find a cure.”
Tucker said she does the walk and organizes the tournament every year not only for her own family but for other people and families affected by MS.
“I do it in memory of my father, who lived with MS for over 30 years,” Tucker said.
“He along with my daughter, who was diagnosed at the age of 20, now 26, and the other one million people living with MS in the U.S. are truly the inspiration for this tournament. I will keep fundraising until we free the world of MS.”
“Myelin” in the tournament name refers to the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves.
“Your immune systems eats away at the myelin sheath with MS,” Tucker said. “Hence Keep S’Myelin, keep the myelin sheath.”
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. the day of the golf tournament with a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and dinner will be provided afterwards.
There will be a 50/50 raffle, closest to the pin and longest drive contests, and many raffle prizes up for grabs including restaurant gift certificates, handmade items, scratch tickets, golf apparel, and more.
If you are unable to attend, you can help the Keep S’Myelin for Katie team by sponsoring a hole for $75. If you have committed to a foursome and want to sponsor a hole the cost is $50, and an 18” by 24” sign will be placed at a hole on the course.
“The signs are being donated by Sign Logic, so your entire donation will be going to the National MS Society,” Tucker said.
A discounted early bird registration fee of $100 per person is being offered for those who sign up and pay by May 1; after that it is $125 per person.
Teams of four and individuals are welcome, and Tucker said as of now they have six teams and four hole sponsors.
“Teams tend to sign up in May, which is one of the reasons we are giving a discount for early sign-up,” she said.
Tucker said she is grateful for all the people who have participated in the tournament over the years and generously donated toward finding a cure for MS.
“I love seeing all the people that love to play golf and are there to support such a great cause,” she said, adding that she is too busy helping with the tournament to play. “My husband and some family members do play. I love to go around and introduce myself, make sure everyone is having a good time and thank them for coming out to support me.”