The 11th Annual Harold Lester Memorial Golf Tournament raised $12,500 to assist local cancer patients and their families.
Nineteen teams participated in the June 17 tournament. The event, held at Lonesome Pine Country Club in Big Stone Gap, benefits the Harold Lester Memorial Fund of the Mountain Laurel Cancer Support and Resource Center. The center is operated by Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc., the local Area Agency on Aging serving Lee, Scott, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.
“We are so appreciative of the Lester family’s continued support of the Mountain Laurel Center, as well as of the tournament sponsors, teams who participated and those who donated or helped in any way,” said MEOC Executive Director Michael Wampler.
The tournament proceeds will go directly to the Harold Lester Memorial Fund to meet many unexpected needs of cancer patients of all ages not addressed by other cancer resources, said MLCC Coordinator Tiffany Jacobs.
“We are grateful to everyone who has supported this cause. The money raised will help cancer patients right here in our community. Facing a cancer diagnosis can come with financial hardships. The Harold Lester Fund can help with expenses such as cancer-related travel costs or liquid nutrition, so vital in helping cancer patients receive adequate nutrition and maintain weight and strength during treatment,” said Jacobs.
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 take care of family, neighbors, friends and those in need. Mr. Lester was devoted to assisting thousands of people during his lifetime. He spent much of his life 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 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.
WINNERS
Harold Lester Memorial Golf Tournament champions and Warrior Flight winners: Joshua Clever, Braden Clever and Connor Tester.
Bear Flight winners, left to right: Jon Day, Brady Bunch, Snuffy Smith and Michael Prewitt.
Spartan Flight winners: Brad Ratliff, Rick Mullins, Ritchie Deel and Stacy Compton.