|
By Greg Hardwig
Naples Daily News
Nov. 17, 2003
Greg Norman likes to refer to Southwest Florida as a new
home for his Franklin Templeton Shootout. This week, the event, featuring
24 PGA Tour pros, once again showed its heart as well.
Norman, 48, and his wife, Laura, started the Shootout 15
years ago to benefit children with cancer. Norman had the first form of the
Shootout back near Orlando in the late 1980s, with money going to build
Arnold Palmer's Children's Hospital.
 Nearly three years ago, Ben Klassen was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Thanks in part to donations from The Franklin Templeton Shootout, his cancer is now in remission. |
|
Now both are on the board of directors of the National
Childhood Cancer Foundation -- the tournament charity -- to which they've
donated a total of $10 million through the tournament.
"Through the years, they have raised money for our cause,
both in terms of this tournament and other philanthropic initiatives, as
well as their own personal donations," Paul Burke, NCCF president, said
this week. "They have been involved in sponsoring fellowships for research
and their commitment has been tremendous through the years."
Friday, Laura Norman and other wives of the Shootout
players visited Children's Hospital in Fort Myers.
"My wife has been very much an integral part of this,"
Norman said. "She's been in there at the NCCF meetings.
"It's teamwork. She's been there every step of the way
for 15 years. My name's out there a bit more than anybody else's but
there's a lot of other people out there behind the scenes. My wife is
definitely one of them."
It's a situation that Laura Norman is familiar with. Her
brother, Dr. Richard Andrassy, is a pediatric oncologist in Houston.
"So the family connection and commitment runs far deeper
and their knowledge of cancer- related issues is substantial," Burke said.
Last year, nearly everyone involved with the tournament
met Nicholas Marchitto, then a 6-year-old, from Cape Coral.
Marchitto bounded up and down the fairways with Norman
most of the weekend.
Two-and-a-half years ago, Marchitto was diagnosed with
rhabdomyosarsoma, a rare pediatric cancer that attacks the renal system. He
remains in remission. This week, he caught up with Norman, hitting balls
with him on the driving range.
This year, the players met Ben Klassen, a Bonita Springs
resident who turned 6 on Wednesday. About three years ago, Klassen was
diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a solid cancerous tumor that is referred to
as the silent tumor. He has been in complete remission for two years.
Ben was a guest at Norman's clinic on Tuesday and at the
tournament dinner on Thursday night. Everyone remembered Ben's birthday,
much to his surprise, cake included.
"They all sang 'Happy Birthday' and he stood center stage
in a tuxedo and just smiled," his mother, Sandie, said.
Ben and his family came out to watch Sunday's round after
catching Florida Everblades games the previous two nights.
Craig Stadler signed his glove and gave it to Ben, and
another player signed his ball and gave it to him. A signed hat was
Norman's gift to Ben.
"(Sunday) was just amazing," Sandie said. "Ben was just
glowing, as we all were."
Just another way that The Franklin Templeton Shootout has
made Southwest Florida home.
| 
