Men bring fight against cancer to Eagle Ridge

By LILLY ADKINS
BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — Four men from Cadiz in Trigg County are working their way across Kentucky to play at every golf course to raise money for a cure for cancer. The four golfers played Thursday at Eagle Ridge in Lawrence County and planned to visit courses last weekend in Boyd and Greenup counties. Former Trigg County High School teacher and basketball coach Mike Wright founded the Golfing Kentucky for a Cure in 2012 after his father died of cancer in 2007. “After my dad passed not a day went by that I didn’t think about him and the impact he had on my life and our community,” Wright said. “In 2012 I decided I wanted to honor him by joining the fight against the dreaded disease of cancer,” Wright said in his mission statement. “It was then that I established Golfing Kentucky for a Cure. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to combine two of my most fervent passions, golf and defeating cancer.” Wright also said in the mission statement that they have four regulars who participate in the golfing fundraising events, including Mike McGill, Al Starnes, Shawn Williamson and himself. “McGill and Starnes are both cancer survivors and Williamson lost his wife to cancer,” Wright said. Wright explained how Golfing Kentucky for a Cure works.
“I and the rest of my golf foursome plan to be the first group ever to play every golf course in the state of Kentucky and raise or donate as much money as possible for cancer research while doing it,” Wright said.
Wright has a list of every golf course in Kentucky, both public and private, as well as 18- and nine-hole courses and contact information for each. Of the 120 counties, Wright says there are currently 15 that do not have a golf course. He said there are 241 golf courses in 105 counties, with Jefferson County leading the way with 27. “I have set up a Golfing Kentucky for a Cure account at FNB Bank in our hometown of Cadiz Kentucky,” he said. “Local citizens and members of our Relay for Life Organization are signed on to monitor the account,” Wright said. “I call each course and ask permission to play, then donate the total costs of the four green fees and cost of the carts to the Golfing Kentucky for a Cure Fund.”
Wright said that after the round, they take a picture of the four players at each course and then eat at a local restaurant, which cannot be a chain. Once the tour is complete, all the funds will be transferred from FNB Bank to Trigg County Relay for Life to be used in the fight against cancer.