The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Battling for ‘Big E’
MPF golf outing supports Bishop Kenrick football standout Emil Boures
NORRISTOWN » The 20th annual Michael Petrone Foundation (MPF) golf outing and dinner features of little bit of all the good things this world can offer -strength, courage, a family’s love, teammates, classmates and the unselfish act of a life-giving donor. Oh, and there’s golf, food and beer. To some people, it doesn’t get better than that.
The event takes place on Sept. 8, with golf being played at Jeffersonville Golf Course (shotgun start at 1 p.m.), and then a dinner (which will no doubt turn into a party) at St. Titus Church Hall (3006 Keenwood Road, East Norriton). For those who prefer to stay off the fairway and head right to the food and fun, there’s
an option for that as well.
This year’s event will highlight the brave struggle of Bishop Kenrick High football standout Emil Boures (class of 1978), who grew up in West Norriton but planted roots in Pittsburgh after a standout collegiate career with the Pitt Panthers, then at the pro level with the Steelers.
According to the MPF website, Boures was diagnosed with myelofibrosis after suffering through months of chronic fatique. Myelofibrosis is a bone marrow disorder that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells. Last March Boures’ brother Joe (BKHS class of 1979) donated his bone marrow and after 35 days of hospitalization, Emil Boures was discharged from the hospital, but remained under medical care in a home provided by the HEADstrong Foundation, located in the Philadelphia suburbs. While Boures is still recovering he continues to improve and grow stronger and the MPF - many of the members former Kenrick teammates and classmates of Emil - supports Boures in his continuing fight.
The Michael Petrone Foundation was established in 1999 by the friends of Mike Petrone, a 1976 graduate of Bishop Kenrick High School. Over the years the foundation has provided scholastic scholarships to many high school students, and financial support to many families that were dealing with medical issues and personal losses.
Ted Botzum, a founding member of the foundation and Petrone’s lifelong childhood friend, said members of MPF are just as fortunate for the opportunity to help people, as those who are helped.
“Twenty years ago, the MPF started out as an organization of a handful of friends who wanted to honor the life of Mike Petrone based on the way he lived his life. We have all been blessed to be a part of this. Over the past few years, the MPF has evolved from an organization into a “community.
“This has been great to witness and probably the best example of this is what this group has been able to pull together for the Boures Family. Hopefully, we continue to have this type of engagement allowing the MPF to be a part of many people’s lives for many years to come.”
The MPF website contains all the info needed for those interested in playing golf and joining the post-play fun. For golf and dinner, cost is $125 a person; just golf, it’s $100; just dinner it’s $50. Also, anyone interested in sponsoring a hole, the information can be found on the MPF website (https://www.michaelpetronefoundation.org/).
For anyone interested in an in depth look at the many hurdles Boures and his family have faced over the last few months, his story is detailed here at this Facebook page maintained by Boures’ wife Michelle: https://www.facebook.com/getbigecancerfree/
So, Bishop Kenrick grads, golfers of all handicaps, Pitt Panthers or Steelers fans (there’s got to be a few out there) or those in support of life-saving bone marrow donor programs such Be The Match (https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/donation-process/donating-bonemarrow/) check out the MPF website or Facebook page, and discover the good the can come from friends wanting to help friends.