Long Island ‘Babes’ Tee Off Against Cancer

American Cancer Society celebrates the 51st year of Babes Against Cancer

More than $37 million raised making it the largest American Cancer Society fundraiser of its kind in the United States, Babes Against Cancer celebrates its 51st season with influential women from over two dozen golf and country clubs across Long Island.

More than 175 guests are expected to attend. There will be a keynote address by Dr. Clara Bodelon, senior principal scientist in the American Cancer Society Population Science Department.

The event will take place on Thursday, May 18 at the Pine Hollow Club, 6601 Northern Boulevard (NY 25-A), in East Norwich. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. with featured guest speaker Dr. Bodelon.

Dollars raised through Babes Against Cancer supports the American Cancer Society’s work to save lives and provide support to everyone impacted by cancer -- from research to education, prevention to diagnosis, and treatment to recovery. Babes Against Cancer tournaments are member-run and member-attended private events offering the opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support the American Cancer Society. Since its inception, Babes Against Cancer has raised more than $37 million, making it the largest American Cancer Society fundraiser of its kind. Funds generated are split equally between breast and prostate cancer support programs.

About Babes Against Cancer

Babes Against Cancer (formerly known as the Babe Zaharias Tournaments) raises over $1 million annually through the joint efforts of over 300 volunteers and 3,000 participants at 20+ country clubs on Long Island. A major force in cancer support now celebrating its 51st year, Babes Against Cancer began in 1972 by Sandy Zuckerman Rothstein. She was a breast cancer survivor who organized the first tournament at the country club where she was a member, namely the Muttontown Club, to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Sandy motivated thousands of Long Island golfers to join her fight by creating and growing the Babe Zaharias Memorial Tournament into the million-dollar event it is today. Re-branded as Babes Against Cancer in 2014, the program has consistently raised over $1 million a year for the past 21 years. (Note: $850,000 was raised in 2020 despite the challenges the pandemic posed, the only year under $1 million for 21 years.)

About Dr. Clara Bodelon, PH.D., M.S.: Senior Principal Scientist, Population Science Survivorship Research, American Cancer Society

Dr. Clara Bodelon is a senior principal scientist in the American Cancer Society (ACS) Population Science Department.

She joined the ACS in February 2023 with a focus on expanding survivorship research in Population Science. Prior to joining ACS, she conducted research at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center and the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Bodelon’s research focuses on understanding how genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors are related to survival after a cancer diagnosis to improve treatment and deliver the right care at the right time to each patient and improve the quantity and quality of life after a cancer diagnosis. In particular, she is interested in how these factors affect mammographic density, the chances of developing a second cancer, and mortality in breast cancer survivors. Her hope is that her research can help personalize treatment and improve prevention recommendations for people with cancer.

Dr. Bodelon has received multiple research excellence awards from the National Institutes of Health and from the American Associations for Cancer Research and has published approximately 50 studies to date.

Dr. Bodelon earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, her Master and Doctoral degrees in Mathematics and Statistics from Boston University, and a second Master in Epidemiology from the University of Washington.

Dr. Bodelon’s interest in health sciences began when, as a young child, she saw her mother going to hospitals for surgeries and staying there for days. That early experience made her want to find ways to minimize the suffering of patients and sparked her interest in health research.

Participating Golf and Country Clubs

Glen Oaks Club

Fresh Meadow Country Club

The Greens

Old Westbury Golf & Country Club

Hamlet Golf & Country Club

Cold Spring Country Club

North Shore Towers Country Club

Pine Hollow Country Club

Noyac Golf Club

North Hills Country Club

Brookville Country Club

Hempstead Golf & Country Club

Garden City Country Club

Muttontown Club

Indian Hills Country Club

Piquet Lane Tennis Club

Village Club of Sands Point

Rockville Links

Port Jefferson Country Club

North Shore Country Club

Cherry Valley Club

South Fork Country Club

—Submitted by the American Cancer Society