|
By Tom Hanson
Naples News
November 12, 2003
The National Childhood Cancer Foundation Children's
Clinic held Tuesday at Tiburón Golf Club was filled with happiness.
There were Happy Hats, Happy Gilmore imitations and 200
happy and inquisitive kids. But no one was happier than Ben Klassen.
Klassen, who turns 6 Wednesday, was ecstatic to meet one
of his idols, Greg Norman, the host of the clinic and this week's Franklin Templeton Shootout. And Norman was equally excited to meet Klassen.
Nearly three years ago, Klassen, a Bonita Springs
resident, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, which is a solid cancerous
tumor that is referred to as the silent tumor.
Ten years ago, someone diagnosed with this disease wasn't
given much of a chance, according to Ben's mother, Sandie Klassen. But
thanks to contributions like the $10 million raised in the 15-year history
of the Shootout, there is new hope.
Klassen is proof. He has been in remission for two years
and looks like your typical kindergartner.
Sandie Klassen said efforts like Norman's don't go
unnoticed.
"It's absolutely incredible to see someone who has such
heart and a feel and passion for something that is so cruel in this world
and he's really trying to make a difference," Klassen said.
Ben was so excited to meet the Great White Shark that he
told his mother the night before, "How am I going to sleep tonight? I have
so many things I want to ask him."
But when Norman put his arm around him, Ben went blank.
That turned out to be all right because the grade-school children from
Royal Palm Academy and St. Annes Academy made up the void.
The students, who created "Happy Hats," which they will
bring as a gift to those children in the Oncology unit at Lee Memorial
Children's Hospital in Ft. Myers and other NCCF institutions, were filled
with pertinent questions.
Norman started the clinic by thanking the children for
giving back to those children who aren't as fortunate.
"For me it's a passion. It's a love," Norman said of his
charitable contributions to help beat childhood cancer. "I don't like going
to a hospital to see kids who are able to sit on the grass and have an iced
tea and just enjoy the sunshine."
Then Norman asked: What was the most important reason to
play golf?
After answers such as practice, dedication, money and
winning, 8-year-old Patrick McArdle gave his explanation.
"The most important reason to play golf is to have fun,"
said the Royal Palm Academy student.
With the correct answer, Norman and renowned golf teacher
Rick Smith opened the driving range for questions. The result left Norman
scratching his head at times.
 | | During the clinic, kids asked Norman to hit a ball like Happy Gilmore. |
|
With inquiries like, "How do you make the ball spin?" or
"How did golf get the name golf?" the group sounded like a press conference
of future sports writers.
"Maybe there's going to be some pretty good journalist
coming out of that group," Norman quipped afterward. "That's the innocence
of youth. You love to hear that and what's exactly coming out of their
minds and their hearts and that's why you have to talk to them and let them
ask questions. The more they ask the better person they will become in the
long run."
The toughest question Norman had to handle was actually a
request. The Hall of Famer was asked if he could hit a ball like Happy
Gilmore, the hockey playing movie character played by Adam Sandler.
Norman said he never saw the movie but obliged and gave
the slap-shot style a try.
The winner of 18 PGA Tour events laughed as he whiffed on
the first attempt. He became a bit red in the face after missing again on
the second attempt. Then, after his third attempt at running and hitting
the ball, Norman was relieved to make contact. Even though the ball
traveled only 40 yards on the ground, Norman received a raucous cheer.
"Twice in tournaments I had back-to-back whiffs so I
thought I was going to break my record," Norman said. "I'm not a good
actor; that's why I probably didn't get picked for Happy Gilmore."
The antics drew a rave review from Klassen, who was
wearing a yellow hula-dancer print "Happy Hat."
But Klassen was more impressed with trick-shot artist
Dennis Walters and his dog, Benji Hogan, who ended the clinic.
"I liked the dog putting the ball on the tee. That was
the best," Klassen said.
For Norman, the best was seeing a healthy-looking Klassen
and the smile on his face.
| 
