SGCC Thursday Ladies: Chip In for a Cure
Nearly 15 years ago, Kelley Spooner, LPGA head professional at Stockton Golf and Country Club, lost a dear friend and fellow LPGA professional, Heather Farr, to breast cancer. Wanting to advocate for those fighting cancer, Kelley called upon a small but mighty group of lady golfers to start a local benefit golf tournament. The Stockton Golf and Country Club 18 Hole Thursday Ladies created a “guest day” tournament, drawing women from all over Northern California, and held their first event in 2009.
The group was originally designed to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, but in 2015, a member of the Thursday Ladies, Lynn Cook, was fighting esophageal cancer. In 2016, in support of her, the group turned their efforts to support a local center. The SGCC Thursday Ladies have lost several members to different kinds of cancer, not just breast cancer. Based on personal experience, they chose St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute as their beneficiary, to honor all cancers.
Co-chairladies Adrienne Hotchkiss and Mary Westin set everything into motion, organizing the golf tournament, sponsors, raffle, luncheon, speakers and a trip-to-Hawaii raffle. With the assistance of Kelley, all the Thursday Lady volunteers and the SGCC staff, the event raises money to support the St. Joseph Cancer Institute. Since the tournament’s inception, these passionate golfers have raised more than $280,000, with over $220,000 staying local since they pivoted to focusing on St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, as they were recognized as Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropists at the 2019 Community Philanthropy Summit, co-hosted by Community Foundation of San Joaquin and Lodi Community Foundation.
The local efforts of the Thursday Ladies have supported St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute by funding a variety of programs such as their COPE program, Lynn W. Cook Exercise program, genetic counseling program, linear accelerator project, and the breast cancer “Pink” program. Each year the group chooses three to support. With the funds they raise, patients and families are offered cancer exercise programs, tai chi, yoga, meditation, massage therapy, weekend retreats, spa days, educational opportunities, transportation, gas cards, grocery cards, bus passes and more. The funds make the journey for the patients a bit easier.
Their work has supported thousands of patients and their loved ones who are facing the scary diagnosis of cancer. “My wife is a two-time survivor of cancer. She has come to know what a benefit it is to have the support of people and programs that help you cope with the disease both physically and psychologically,” shared Patrick Velasquez, past chairman, St. Joseph’s Foundation of San Joaquin. “Without the support of groups like the SGCC Thursday Ladies, many of these programs might have to be cut back and, in some cases, eliminated.”
After the Chip In for a Cure tournament winners are announced each year, the Thursday Ladies begin planning for the next year! Working together, they divide the many responsibilities that create a successful event. Every year the ladies surpass their prior year’s goal, raising the bar higher and higher for themselves. They are an inspiring group of local women focused on supporting their sisters-in-arms and encouraging others to support local causes while having fun.
