ST. GEORGE — Around $150,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society by golfers who played amongst the expansive views of the Black Desert Resort Golf Course in the Southern Utah Golf Classic.

The Senior Development Manager at the American Cancer Society in Salt Lake City, Averiel Bailey, told St. George News that the event helps to support the Hope Lodge.

This place houses cancer patients and their caregivers when they have to travel 40 or more miles away from home for cancer treatment. That lodge was founded in 2015.

“We have 32 Hope Lodges across the nation. But our Utah Hope Lodge is the only one on the Western side of the country,” Bailey said. “It supports getting families and people going through their cancer journey to have a free home away from home while trying to receive treatment.”

She noted that over the last eight years, the American Cancer Society has supported 67,000 free nights of lodging, saving families $12 million in traveling and hotel expenses, which “makes a huge difference when they’re battling cancer.”

The lodges are a considerable part of what the American Cancer Society does to ensure people have access to care. 

“I was personally a caregiver to my father before he passed away from glioblastoma brain cancer. And having a sense of community makes a huge difference in people’s spirits while battling such a terrible disease,” Bailey said. “We make sure that they have a home away from home every single day when they’re going through that treatment, so they’re not in it alone.”

Southern Utah residents Matt and Kara Heaton organized the Southern Utah Golf Classic. Heaton said the Black Desert Resort golf course was designed by Tom Weiskopf, a former PGA standout. Weiskopf died from pancreatic cancer shortly before the course was completed. The course was his 73rd design.

Heaton said it was unfortunate that Weiskopf didn’t get to see the completed course that showcased his creative design skills. Weiskopf will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame class of 2024 in a ceremony at Pinehurst, North Carolina, next summer before the U.S. Open, according to an article in the St. George News.

Heaton said he wanted to help the American Cancer Society since cancer had touched his family’s lives. His father passed away two years ago from metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, which is a very rare tissue cancer. The cancer was caused by the radiation treatments he had received from his previous two battles with cancer back in his 20s that he had, so 30 years later, his father had to battle cancer again. 

“My father fought hard for two and a half years. We saw the struggles and we as a family obviously went through struggles,” Heaton said. “And knowing that American Cancer Society, the effect that they have on cancer, in general, may not affect patients directly. But, the treatment that a patient received may have been the research for that treatment may have been funded by the American Cancer Society. I’m so grateful to be a part of this organization and to be able to support them.”

Heaton thanked the community for coming together and Black Desert Resort. He also said many sponsors, such as the video and photography company While You’re in Town, donated their time.

“We had lots of sponsors come and help us out with this event. And donate their time and their money, and themselves; it was just amazing,” Heaton said.

Heaton’s wife Kara said the couple worked for almost one year organizing the event.

“We’re honored and humbled to be a part of this awesome opportunity to raise money for cancer patients, cancer awareness and research,” Kara said. “The community has really come together to support this event.”

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