SPINA Golf Outing by Kat Narbonne Every year our center volunteers to help with the Spina Golf for Life Event. The proceeds from the tournament are donated to us to help us further research in ALS. The Spina family has hosted this event for three years. It is located every year at the Rockaway River Country Club in New Jersey. The Spina family graciously plans this event every year in honor of a family member that passed away from ALS. This event dates back to Fall 2004 when the Spina family approached our staff with the idea of creating a fundraiser for ALS research. Nancy Hirshan, our former divisional administrator, worked with them to help create the ALS Golf for Life tournament. On June 4, 2007 we had our 3rd annual ALS Golf for Life tournament which to date has raised over half a million dollars for ALS research. Each year on the first Monday of June this event, which has become a cornerstone for this center, happens despite the weather. This day the Golf for Life coincided with the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry. For those of us who attended the first year, it was hard not to forget how the thunder storms had threatened to shut down the first tournament. Arriving at the country club on that waterlogged day I realized how seriously the Spinas take this event. I had called early to make sure that the event had not been rained out and rescheduled for a different day. I had underestimated the planning of this event and the determination of the people who plan it. The day did start with some cancellations for the golf portion but others decided to brave out the storm and come out to play. They were not disappointed. After lunch the weather cleared enough so the patrons could play golf. As one patron said, it was like Carol Spina was watching over the tournament and inserting her own personality over things. Even though the day had started on such a sour note, it ended up being one of the nicest and most successful events our center has had. The tournament schedule goes as follows, check in between 10 and 12, lunch at 12 to 1:30, golf from 1:30 to 5:45 and cocktails and dinner from 6 to 8. During the cocktail and dinner hour, patrons of the event participate in a silent auction. This year we had a number of interesting items such as a complete spa kit, wine tasting event in the Napa Valley and Yankee tickets. In addition to the silent auction, there was a 50/50 raffle that enthusiastic patrons participated in. During the dinner hour Dr. Mitsumoto and Dr. Gordon gave speeches about how events such as this tournament were a real cornerstone for our center and that half the research completed could not be done without gifts. Everyone who donates makes a difference in ALS research. To quote Dr. Gordon from last year’s speech, "AIDS has changed from a fatal disease to a chronic one. Doing the same thing with ALS is possible but requires the same amount of attention and funding that makes breakthroughs that have been seen in Parkinson’s Disease and AIDS." Thank you to the Spina Family for hosting the Golf for Life tournament this year and thank you to everyone who has donated to make a difference in the fight. Special Thanks for the Spina Family for the money raised for the ALS/MDA Research Center: This year over $180,000 was raised.