A Thanksgiving Story
Patrick Quinn died Sunday at age 37 after a seven-year battle with ALS. He was a brave man- you have to be brave when you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
The degenerative neuromuscular disease eventually robs its host of nearly every bodily ability, even swallowing. But the disease leaves the mind intact.
And Patrick used his mind to the utmost. He is credited with co-creating along with two other ALS sufferers, the hugely popular Ice Bucket Challenge which in 2014 raised $220 million for the ALS Association. If you’ll remember, people, including many celebrities, took selfies being doused with buckets of ice water and challenged their friends to do the same.
That funding allowed the Association to make important advances for treatments for ALS, in eye movement communication technology and helping patients and their families cope with the disease. Many lives have been made better because of the efforts of Patrick and his friends.
These advances have allowed what Patrick called “a new sense of hope”.
So, what does this story have to do with Thanksgiving?
Well isn’t hope really the unheralded twin of gratitude?
When we give thanks for what we have today, is there not an implied hope for tomorrow?
However you choose to celebrate, we at sportingAcause wish you a safe and thankful day.
Ice Bucket Open
The Ice Bucket Open, 4th Annual will be held Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Canaan Country Club, 74 High Street, Canaan, CT 06018.
The 18 hole, four-person scramble format event will be run in two flights.
The cost is $115 per person which includes green fees, continental breakfast, cart, lunch, on-course contests, prizes and awards. There will also be a raffle.
Only advance registrations will be accepted, by August 2nd- no exceptions. Last year, the morning flight filled up early and the entire tournament sold out well before tournament day.
Send registration and check to Jeannine Frink, 11 Ruth Cross Road, Colebrook, CT 06021.
Tournament day schedule is as follows:
7:30 am Check in for morning flight, continental breakfast.
8:00 am Shotgun start for morning flight
Noon Lunch for both flights
12:30 pm Check in for afternoon flight
1:00 pm Shotgun start for afternoon flight.
Raffle and awards follow end of second flight (award winners need not be present)
For information about registration, sponsorship opportunities etc. call or text Jeannine at (203) 223-2688.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter which provides equipment, transportation, and general support to ALS patients and their families.
To learn more about the ALS Association visit alsact.org.
Thank you to the following generous supporters:
Eric Kostak
Stony Brook Golf Course 263 Milton Road Litchfield, CT 06759 |
Beth Ford Candlewood Valley Country Club 401 Danbury Road New Milford, CT 06776 |
Dino Gravanis The Ranch Golf Club 65 Sunnyside Road Southwick, MA 01077 |
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Karen Madaus Richter Park Golf Course 100 Aunt Hack Road Danbury, CT 06811 |
Ron Pfaefflin Norfolk Country Club 50 Golf Drive Norfolk, CT 06058 |
Jon Urban Copake Country Club 44 Golf Course Road Craryville, NY 12521 |
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Mark Levesque Columbia Golf & Country Club P. O. Box 646 Claverack, NY 12513 |
Jared Smith Greenwoods Country Club 300 Torringford Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
Jim Budney Greenwoods Country Club 300 Torringford Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
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Tom Sullivan Wyantenuck Country Club P. O. Box 338 Great Barrington, MA 01230 |
Bob Ferrarotti Fairview Farms Golf Course 300 Hill Road Harwinton, CT 06791 |
Bud Pepin Torrington Country Club P. O. Box 837 Torrington, CT 06790 |
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Mike DeFeo 159 South Borough Road Southington, CT 06489 |
Ledgebrook Wine & Spirits Attn: Neil 200 New Hartford Road Winsted, CT 06098 |
Mario’s Tuscany Grill 560 Main Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
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Tributary Restaurant 19 Rowley Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
Al Nero Gilson Cafe & Cinema 354 Main Street Winsted, CT 06098
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R & B Sport 19 Rowley Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
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Rowley Grill & Tap 19 Rowley Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
Northwest Sporting Goods 178 Rowley Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
Ann Lavieri Allstate Insurance 40 Park Place E Winsted, CT 06098 |
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Chelsea Gomez
Ryan Gomez Allstate Insurance 40 Park Place E Winsted, CT 06098 |
Harvey & Marion Bullis 14 W. Goldfinch Court Savannah, GA 31419 |
David Cappabianca Mattress Firm 1912 East Main Street Torrington, CT 06790 |
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Robin Bergman 64 Deer Run Road Watertown, CT 06795 |
Fran Marrello 84 Lake Plymouth Blvd Plymouth, CT 06782 |
Winsted Precision Ball 159 Colebrook River Road Winsted, CT 06098
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Shawn Finney Finney Electric LLC 72 Old turnpike Road N Canaan, CT 06018 |
Knight’s Electrical Service, Inc. Moe & Dolly Spadaccini P. O. Box 64 Canaan, CT 06018 |
The Barden Foundation 1146 Barnum Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06610
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Leslie DiMartino Riverton General Store, LLC 2 Main Street, P.O. Box 48 Riverton, CT 06065 |
Meredith Wise Employers Association of the NE 67 Hunt Street, PO Box 1070 Agawam, MA 01001-6070 |
Mitchell Auto Group 71 Albany Tpke Canton, CT 06019 |
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Kimberly Perez Golf Club of Avon 160 Country Club Road Avon, CT 06001 |
Maria Schaechter Schaeffler Group USA 308 Springhill Farm Road Fort Mill, SC 29715
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Tina Zucca Pop’s Diner 85 Main Street Canaan, CT 06018 |
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Normand Wine & Spirit 361 North Main Street Winsted, CT 06098 |
Tony Troisi
T & J Screw Machine Products 27 Main Street Oakville, CT 06779
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Buddy Riva CA Lindell 59 Church Street Canaan, CT 06018 |
Bob Frink
I only saw Bob Frink once, and from that moment wished that I had known him longer. I met him at the Canaan Country Club last August where he was hosting the 3rd Annual Ice Bucket Open Golf Tournament to raise money for the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter.
Bob sat in a motorized wheelchair. He could no longer speak, but he could smile, and I think smiling is about the bravest thing you can do when you have ALS.
ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or, more commonly, Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which means it robs the sufferer of muscular control starting with mobility and manual dexterity and eventually speech and the ability to breath. There is no cure, and it is always fatal. It stole those things from Bob, but it couldn’t rob his spirit, or the spirit of his wife Jeanine and their family. Much is asked of a family when a member has ALS.
Bob had served as greens keeper at CCC for 27 years, so a golf tournament at the Club was a natural for a fundraiser. Well known and well loved, Bob’s friends organized the Open to raise money to help him out, but Bob decided the proceeds would go to ALS Association CT, the organization that has helped him and his family.
Bob passed away in February, but the Ice Bucket Challenge continues. It will be held this Saturday, August 10th, for the fourth year, at the Canaan Country Club in memory of Bob Frink.
The tournament has raised over $70,000 for ALS research over its three year run.