The Retort

Yellowjacket Putt for the Cure Golf Tournament Benefits Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

March 26th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

Montana State University Billings golf coach, Shawn O’Brien, announced Monday that the Yellowjackets will hosted a Putt for the Cure Golf Tournament on March 18 and 19, 2010, at Eaglerock Golf Course in Billings, Montana. Eighteen teams competed in MSUB’s first-ever pancreatic cancer awareness fund raiser benefitting America’s largest non-profit foundation dedicated solely to pancreatic cancer research—the Lustgarten Foundation.

Based in Bethpage, New York, the Lustgarten Foundation was founded in 1998. It is focused on providing research for better diagnostics and treatment for pancreatic cancer, which is America’s fourth-leading cause of cancer death. The exceptional partnership of the Lustgarten Foundation and the Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) in 1999 has created an effort in which 100 percent of funds raised go directly to researching this deadliest of cancers.

O’Brien’s own father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early March of 2008. O’Brien’s father passed away in May of 2009, which highlights the severity of a disease that holds just a five percent survival rate.

“My dad’s experience made me aware of how fast-acting this disease is and how important it is to find it early, before it spreads,” O’Brien said. “I thought having a Putt for the Cure campaign during our golf tournament would create awareness among our student athletes. By being involved in this effort, our athletes will reach beyond the issues they encounter every day. They’ll also have an opportunity to do something to benefit an organization uniquely positioned to lead the way toward diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.”

Myles Brand, former Indiana University president (1994-2002) and president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 2002 until his death on September 16, 2009, at the age of 67, also was stricken by pancreatic cancer. After learning of Indiana University’s campaign to create an endowed faculty chair in cancer research to commemorate Brand, O’Brien developed the MSUB Putt for the Cure concept.

“I think what Indiana University has done is spectacular,” O’Brien said. “Funds that are raised from Putt for the Cure will help assist the Lustgarten Foundation. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for them. Our student-athletes have gone out and done a great job of getting individuals and community members to donate toward this worthy cause. We’re extremely grateful for the contribution Frontier Cancer Centers and Blood Institute of Billings has made.”

Anyone wishing to donate or to learn more about Putt for the Cure may contact Shawn O’Brien at 307-689-3425 or shawn.obrien3@msubillings.edu. For additional information visit the website of the Lustgarten Foundation.