The 13th Annual Harold Lester Memorial Golf Tournament, held on June 14 at Lonesome Pine Country Club in Big Stone Gap, raised approximately $14,000 to support local cancer patients and their families.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Harold Lester Memorial Fund of the Mountain Laurel Cancer Support and Resource Center, operated by Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. (MEOC), the local Area Agency on Aging serving Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the City of Norton. Seventeen teams participated in the tournament, contributing to its success.
“The funds raised will directly assist local cancer patients,” said MEOC Director of Wellness and Insurance Counseling Tiffany Jacobs, who organizes the event alongside the Lester family. “Facing a cancer diagnosis can come with overwhelming financial burdens. The Harold Lester Memorial Fund eases some of that stress by helping with expenses that other resources might not cover. This includes travel costs for treatments, liquid nutrition supplements like Ensure, wheelchair ramp construction and utility bills.”
MEOC Executive Director Michael Wampler expressed gratitude for the community’s support of the tournament. “We are especially thankful for the Lester family’s unwavering support of the Mountain Laurel Center. Their dedication, along with our sponsors’ generosity and team participation, makes a significant difference in the lives of those battling cancer,” Wampler noted.
The Harold Lester Memorial Fund was established in 2011 by MEOC and Mr. Lester’s family to honor his legacy of giving after he lost his battle with cancer. Those who knew Mr. Lester remember a man with a strong Christian faith and a belief that one needs to care for family, neighbors, friends and those in need. Mr. Lester assisted thousands during his lifetime, much of which he spent working with children and their families through the Wise County School System, where he was a teacher, coach and administrator for over three decades. He was the director of secondary education at the time of his retirement.
Donations of any amount to the Harold Lester Memorial Fund are always appreciated. Make an online contribution HERE or mail your donation to P.O. Box 888, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Contact Jacobs at (276) 523-4202 to learn more about MLCC.
