In 2013, CWGA fundraising efforts for cancer-related causes produced the most money they have in the three years the association has actively supported such initiatives.
Next year, the fruits of those efforts will begin to become apparent.
Nine months after announcing the launch of the “Mind Your Game” program — which is designed to help keep golfers who have survived cancer in the game that they love — the CWGA reported that its member clubs, with some outside help, raised $12,030 in support of the new initiative.
That amount eclipses either of the single-year totals CWGA member clubs contributed in 2011 and 2012 for Mind Your Game’s predecessor, “Three Putt for the Cure”, which benefited breast cancer research efforts. Three Putt for the Cure raised roughly $16,400 over a two-year period.
“I had no idea how the program would be received because it’s different than Three Putt for the Cure,” said Kim Schwartz, the CWGA’s member programs and marketing manager. “I think the impact it will have going forward will be huge because we’re tying the cause to supporting golf and keeping people in the game, which is great. To raise $12,000 is way more money than I thought we’d raise this year.
“When people see this program at work, that will certainly help.”
Though Mind Your Game did hold one weekend group retreat — in Vail — for cancer survivors in 2013 (pictured above), that event didn’t include a golf component. That will change in 2014 as golf will be included in the two planned Mind Your Game weekend retreats, according to Julie Bach, founder of the program.
“Now that we have the money for it (thanks to the $12,030 that was raised), we can” include the golf in retreats, Bach said.
Mind Your Game will provide golf-related activities in addition to yoga, custom meditation, spa sessions and mindfulness lessons for cancer survivors — female or male, regardless of cancer type. The golf aspect of Mind Your Game will include group golf lessons focusing on various parts of the game, as well as practice on and off the course.
Dates for the two retreats haven’t been set, but Bach said that one of them will be held at the Sonnenalp Golf Club west of Vail, with the other site to be determined.
In addition, requests for private three-hour sessions for those who can’t make the retreats can often be accommodated.
After Bach came up with the idea of Mind Your Game and approached the CWGA about partnering in the program, it was rolled out at the CWGA annual meeting on Feb. 23.
Six golf clubs raised funds for Mind Your Game in 2013. Most were women’s clubs, but the men at Red Rocks Country Club joined the women in the fundraising effort there.
Pinehurst Country Club and the Sanger Foundation brought in the largest total of the year, $5,000. Red Rocks CC was a close second, with $4,400.
Other contributors were Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks in Silverthorne ($1,455), CommonGround Golf Course ($550), Foothills Golf Course ($400) and Aurora Hills Golf Course ($225).
“I was thankful for how much was raised,” Bach said. “If we can increase awareness, we can reach more people.” Bach said her “true target” is to eventually raise $100,000.
Bach said getting more clubs involved — including men’s clubs — and possibly doing functions such as raffles and silent auctions could considerably boost the money raised, and thus allow more cancer survivors to participate in subsidized Mind Your Games programs.
For more information, go to MindYourGame.org.
