This is our third and final installment highlighting our 2019 Fundraise for Meso events. Read the first recapping our long-standing fundraisers held for five years or longer and the second recapping fundraisers established in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
In 2019, our inaugural Fundraise for Meso events raised a combined nearly $13,000 benefiting the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. They include the Steve Torrey Golf Benefit, The David E. Watterson Memorial Walk to End Meso and Music for Meso.
Learn more about these events, the organizers who made them happen and their advice for hosting your first Fundraise for Meso event (listed in chronological order by time of year when they occur):
Steve Torrey Golf Benefit – Jennifer Guernsey
Willow Springs Golf Course | Vassar, MI
September 21, 2019
Hosted by Johnson & Wood and Roth Electrical, the Steve Torrey Golf Benefit commemorated the memory of Steve Torrey, an avid golfer and the owner and operator of both companies, who passed away from mesothelioma in September 2018. Leading the charge was Jennifer Guernsey, Steve’s niece and an administrator at Johnson & Wood, who gathered 25 teams for this fun, casual four-person golf scramble that included hole contests, music, a marshmallow drive, a breakfast bar with make-your-own Blood Marys and mimosas, lunch and a steak dinner. Prizes were movie packages ($50 to a restaurant and the movies), a mini Keurig and Yeti products.
“My advice is to give yourself lead time. Although we had a successful event, we planned all of it in just two months. To ensure that next year’s event is bigger, we will make sure to start planning six months in advance.”
Jennifer Guernsey
The David E. Watterson Memorial Walk to End Meso – Lee Ann Watterson
Putnam River Trail | Putnam, CT
September 29, 2019
This event celebrated the memory of David E. Watterson, a mesothelioma warrior who passed away in July 2018. Organized by Dave’s wife, Lee Ann, and an army of loved ones, the two-mile memorial walk was done on the Putnam River Trail, a favorite place and activity of the Wattersons. Following the walk, participants gathered in a pavilion for raffle prize drawings and socializing.
“I highly recommend doing raffles. We planned ours a few weeks before the event and still had a great response. In fact, that’s where the majority of our proceeds came from. I’d also say “advertise, advertise, advertise” — signs, word-of-mouth from family and friends and Facebook.”
Lee Ann Watterson
Music for Meso – Patrick Sheppard
Apple Valley American Legion | Apple Valley, MN
October 27, 2019
Patrick Sheppard and his father, Jim, have always shared a bond over music, so it made perfect sense to host a music-related fundraiser after Jim’s mesothelioma diagnosis in April 2019. Music for Meso’s line-up included The Double Down Daredevils (a six-piece bluegrass band), Tori Evans (singer and songwriter), Reigning Runners Up (Patrick’s band) and Ghost Wagon (an alternative Americana band). While enjoying the music, attendees were able to play games and participate in a silent auction, with items ranging from Minnesota Wild tickets to a private wine tasting. Despite having one of his lungs removed two weeks prior to the event, Jim was in attendance and is excited about the opportunity to join Patrick on stage at next year’s event.
“This was a real grassroots effort – built from the ground-up with no prior experience. If you’re planning a fundraiser for the Meso Foundation, talk to anyone and everyone. You’ll be amazed at the number of people who want to help and support the cause.”
Patrick Sheppard
Interested in hosting your own Fundraise for Meso event? Contact us at [email protected] or 703-879-3797, and we will provide you the tools and resources you’ll need to make your event a success.
