BrAva Holds Their Annual Golf Outing

MARIETTA, OH — BrAva held its 7th charity golf outing on Saturday, and event organizers were very pleased with the turnout.

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This weekend, 36 teams of 4 hit the links out on the Lakeside Resort Colony Golf Course in Beverly. There was so much of a demand, BrAva Committee Member Nancy Arthur said if they could handle more, they would have had 45 teams out there. But these golfers weren’t just enjoying a sunny Saturday, they were helping raise funds to fight childhood cancer.

BrAva is a local non-profit created to fund cancer research, and help families with a child who has cancer. Desni Crock is the former president and founder of BrAva. The Br is for her daughter, Bridget, she was diagnosed with a rare cancer when she was 2. She’s 14 now and in remission. But not all families are so lucky. Ava Nichols was also diagnosed with cancer, she will forever be 6.

Crock said after their ordeal, she and a group of friends felt they needed to take action. They started with a 5K run, and they kept adding fundraisers. Anyone who wants to give, visit BrAvafight.com, and there’s a link to donate.

BrAva does donate money to cancer research, and so far they have donated over $300,000. But where they really shine is in the help they give to local families struggling with childhood cancer. Arthur said they have accounts for about 50 local families dealing with a child fighting cancer. They help with whatever expenses they might need. She said the financial toll that having a child deal with cancer is unbelievable and that no amount of medical insurance can cover it. Some parents have to go quit their job so they can properly care for the child. So they help wherever they can.

“If they tell us they have a house payment they can’t make, a utility bill. We do a lot of gas cards for families going back and forth to Nationwide for treatments. Gift cards for groceries.”

They help childhood cancer families mostly in southeast Ohio, but they have some in West Virginia. They’re about to send out gift cards to families for school supplies. Around Christmastime, they send out gift cards for Christmas gifts. They do a lot for these families and that’s no secret. This is part of the reason their fundraisers are so well attended.

The golf outing fundraiser was their second biggest fundraiser of the year. Crock said they started this one because the husbands wanted a thing. BrAva's big fundraiser is the Mom Prom, usually held in April, but this year it's set for September (childhood cancer awareness month). They’ve had to cancel twice so far because of COVID-19. Arthur says this is for moms, or possible moms-to-be, really ladies of all ages. It’s at the Junior Fair Building at the Washington County fairgrounds but because of all the decorations, pomp, and circumstance, you wouldn’t know it. She says they pick three moms of children with cancer to honor. They have sashes and do a big prom thing with music, food from the brewery, and drinks. She said it’s a blast.

Arthur said the golf outing was such a success that they’re already looking forward to next year. Just before they wrapped up for the day, they went ahead and booked the course for next year.

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