The People's Blog: Teacher Helps Friend With Lymphoma

For my first installment of blogging about the people of Mehlville, I didn't have to go far.  Tori Heinemann is my neighbor.  She lives next door with her husband and two daughters.  I'm kinda partial to the older girl as she's a big fan of me!  Tori is a St. Louis native, and she's a high school teacher.  Being a mom, a teacher, and a wife is quite enough to be admired for. 

Many of you have similar crazy schedules every day, and each day jam packed with work and family time.  Fighting the good fight every day is tough enough.  That's what makes Tori special.  She not only does these those things, but when she sees a family member or a friend in need, she acts.  She doesn't just feel sorry and try to offer encouraging words like I do, but she gets her hands dirty and makes a difference.

Case in point, her friend and fellow teacher, Maria Scopino, has been diagnosed and is getting treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Maria is a young teacher that had nothing but blue skies in front of her until her November diagnosis.  She has since started cancer treatments, and though she does have insurance and has done the smart things to take care of herself in case of an emergency like this, the costs are still very high.  It's not just treatments, but a whole lifestyle change that has to happen to anyone fighting cancer.  She is fighting the fight and not begging for help, but Tori knew better than to just let it go.  She knew she could help her friend.

So, what did Tori do? She set up a golf tournament.  One small thing, she had never put on a golf tournament before.  When most people would have decided that something like this was too difficult and that perhaps something smaller would be more doable, but have less of an impact, Tori pressed on.  She got the information she needed, she asked the right people to help, and now the day is approaching.  Saturday, May 21st is the tournament.  I'm not privy to all the details as to how many spots are available for playing or for sponsoring a hole or donating items for the auction or for the dinner and drinks afterward, but I do know how you can find out.

The cost is $75 a person ($300 for the team) for the 4-person scramble, dinner, and beverages. If you would like to just come for dinner it will be $25. There will be a silent auction and raffle, cash prizes for first and second place, attendance prizes, as well as a closest to the pin prize and a longest drive contest.  Hole sponsorships are also available for a minimum donation of $75. They are also accepting donation items for the auction or money to go directly to Maria.  All proceeds will benefit both Maria in her battle, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

To register for the tournament either as a golfer or as a dinner guest only, please email Stephanie Starkey at steph.starkey@att.net.  To register as a hole sponsor or to donate items please contact Tori at toriheinemann@hotmail.com.