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John F. Russell: Rally is a crucial fundraiser

John F. Russell

— The Rally for the Cure isn’t the biggest story I will cover this year. It isn’t a unique story, and chances are that when all is said and done, it will not change the world in which we live.

But it is important nonetheless.

It’s important to our community because we can see how it affects our neighbor. It’s important because it proves that if a dedicated group of people works together, that group can make a difference — maybe not on a worldwide scale, but a difference in somebody’s life.



The story is important because breast cancer is something that has touched, or will touch, everyone. I’m not sure that the money raised by this year’s Rally for the Cure Golf Tournament will lead to a cure, but it might help a family member, a friend or someone I see at the store deal with the horrible impacts of cancer.

On Tuesday, the Rally for the Cure tournament will celebrate its 12th year in Steamboat Springs at the Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club.



As with so many other local golf tournaments, the goal of the event is to raise money. Much of that money will stay in our community, where it will help support the Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project. The project provides support for men and women in Routt and Moffat counties who are dealing with breast cancer by paying for a number of things, including mammograms, support, transportation, wheelchairs and wigs.

Tournament organizer Linda Danter says about two-thirds of the money stays in the area, and the rest goes to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Although the ultimate goal of a cure is probably still years away, I hope organizers will not be deterred. They should not listen to those who ask why we should work toward something that might never happen. Sometimes it’s easier to sit on the sidelines. But that doesn’t make it right.

In the end, I don’t think the money raised by the Rally is going to directly lead to a cure. However, the money this group raises each year does make an impact we can all see if we take the time to look.

Since this tournament began 12 years ago, I’ve met men and women who have dealt with the devastation of breast cancer in their own lives. Men and women come out to support this event with hopes that it will lead to a cure and the knowledge that if a small group of people works toward a common cause, it can make a difference.

This tournament may not lead to the cure we all want, but at least it shows that our community cares about those who have been touched by breast cancer.

To reach John F. Russell call 970-871-4209 or email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com


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