What a week! Last Monday, in 90 degree heat, 150 family and friends showed up for the Shannon Scramble. Some played, some volunteered but all of them helped us put on our first golf tournament in four years, and it all went better than expected.
Erin was able to come home for the weekend which was a huge bonus for me and Dan to have her with us to celebrate 10 years of the Shannon O'Hara Foundation. She even made the local news as they came out to do a story on the event!
Shannon O'Hara Foundation Celebrates 10 Years with Shannon Scramble
As I drove around and talked to the foursomes, I was struck by the different tentacles that Shannon and the foundation have created.
There were Shannon's friends and classmates, now working adults who are getting married.
There were Erin's classmates and their families, who may not have known Shannon, but were part of our journey because they showed up to support Erin and us after the loss of her sister.
There were Dan's colleagues, my friends and both of our families. There were our SOF board members. There were people from the hockey community. There were former scholarship winners, back home to take part.
And there was Dr. Richard Vile, who came to speak at the dinner about the difference Shannon continues to make. Shannon's tumor cells live on in the lab and are helping move research forward. Here's a recent news story about the immunotherapy approach that's showing some promise:
Mayo Clinic researchers load CAR-T cells with oncolytic virus to treat solid cancer tumors
All of us involved are trying to honor Shannon's wish that her life would matter.
To say we feel loved and supported is an understatement. The money raised — $15,000 — is important to the mission. But just as important is the reminder that people are good and kind.
The t-shirt we gave away at the event was a reminder of how Shannon lived and a sentiment we need now more than ever: "Be a good teammate."
Shannon would be turning 24 this week. She isn't here to celebrate, but we did our best to celebrate her and her memory last week with 150 others who help us carry on.
