Island Pointe G.C. is hosting a special golf outing, Links Fore Leukemia, not just for the love of the game – but because this fight is personal. A longtime member of our team has been diagnosed with a rare aggressive blood cancer called TP53 mutated Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Many of you have met Dan, our owner. For the past 16 years he has been performing work on the golf course with the maintenance crew, or he is in the Clubhouse greeting people. As with many blood cancers there is currently no standard of care and he is currently undergoing treatment via a clinical trial for this disease.
In his situation, his TP53 mutated mantle cell lymphoma presented with blastoid morphology which enables this high risk disease to act more aggressively. Over the past 10 months he has been traveling to Boston receiving wonderful care and treatment for the disease. While this type of lymphoma is strongly associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis, he is receiving care at Massachusetts General Hospital (in conjunction with Dana Farber) through a clinical trial using targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Since this particular disease can’t be treated with standard chemotherapy, his doctors are using novel, modern therapy to achieve a longer period where the disease is undetectable. Since the diagnosis Dan has researched blood cancers in Knoxville, TN and nationwide and decided to open Links Fore Leukemia, Inc. a non-profit with the sole purpose to raise money and awareness for blood cancers.
Links Fore Leukemia is having its inaugural golf event to raise money to help families and research to find hope, and eventual cures through clinical trials like his. This will be the first event for the non-profit as it seems too often we learn of someone who is or has been diagnosed with a type of cancer. According to SEER/NPCR data, Knox County Tennessee records 336 new leukemia cases annually. This number doesn’t reflect lymphoma or myeloma cases diagnosed each year. Blood cancer increases the risk of secondary malignancies and there are currently 2,750 cases of other types of cancer such as Breast, Prostate, Lung and Colorectal per year in Knox County. Cancer is age agnostic and has no bias with respect to whom it affects. Our team is reminded daily of how much support, research, and compassion it takes to battle cancer, especially blood cancers.
Dan’s story is like too many others. Join us as he utilizes his platform to help the fight against blood cancers! This event is more than a day on the course. It’s a chance to stand together, raise awareness, and support those affected by leukemia and other blood cancers. The beneficiary of this outing is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which in the last fiscal year distributed more than $5.5 Million to Tennesseans to assist with co-pays, travel, and urgent needs. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer, a weekend warrior, or someone who just wants to help make a difference – you can be part of something powerful.
Let’s make every swing count – for everyone fighting this battle, and the hope of finding a cure. Thank you for your support , your generosity, and your heart!
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