Targeting a Cure for Parkinson’s Restrictions from Covid have
challenged fundraising events limiting them to mostly to outdoor locations. Looking for ways to continue to safely raise money for the Michael J Fox Foundation, Team Fox members Joe and Kathy Holden of Ellicott City Maryland noticed the “Top Contender” tournament available as a fundraiser through Topgolf. It being an outdoor event, they began to plan. The top contender tournament links competing teams from multiple cities featuring a live leaderboard. So, the first step was to find like-minded MJFF supporters in locations across the country to participate and join in with them. Longtime friends and fellow Team Fox members Bob and Cecily Harmon, living in the Winter Haven area, jumped on board. Bob and Cecily have hosted an annual golf tournament to benefit Team Fox and the Michael J Fox foundation. In 12 years their tournament has raised $525,000. Bob has also served as a mentor helping others raise money and has played an ambassador like role speaking and talking to many folks like himself who have been stricken with Parkinson’s disease. Bob and Cecily brought 3 teams of golfers from the Lake Ashton club to the Topgolf location in Tampa. In total, six locations participated as the “Targeting a Cure for Parkinson’s” event began on October 3, In addition to Tampa, locations in Washington DC, Germantown Maryland, Charlotte North Carolina, Austin Texas and Atlanta Georgia joined in. Lunch was provided and all golfers were included in a hole-in-one contest. Over 210 golfers on 40 teams participated in the best ball style tournament for over two hours. The upscale driving range venue provides targets to aim for and points are score based on how close to the center of the target the ball lands. At the conclusion, three national winners were declared, including Team LA Bombers, one of the three teams Bob and Cecily had recruited to play. Thanks to the support of the Harmon’s and others around the country, what began as a small event quickly grew to 210 golfers and has raised close to $120,000 to date. 24
Bob Harmon and the Hawks family Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 7
