You are invited to join sports celebrities, cancer patients, and cancer survivors for Stanford Hospital’s Village of Champions event Sunday afternoon, July 9 to kick off the annual Fore the Care golf tournament to be held the following day. The events raise funds for Stanford Hospital’s Cancer Concierge Services, a superb level of personal care that is changing the global landscape and standard of care for people with cancer. “The vision is a testament to the power of personal care and what it means to survive cancer” says Barbara Ralston, the head of Stanford’s Concierge Services.
The party starts at 4:00pm at the Stanford Cancer Center on Blake Wilbur Drive near the main hospital building.
Colon cancer survivor and Honorary Chair, Gary Grandmaison, admits he had no idea how much support he and his family would need through the months following his diagnosis. “Fortunately, Stanford's Cancer Concierge Services included education, patient advocates, navigators, support groups, fulfilling wishes, assistance with temporary housing and scheduling appointments, and assistance with insurance issues which proved every bit as important to my recovery as the medical treatment,” he says.
Mitch Juricich, the popular host of the radio show Hooked On Golf, will be Master of Ceremonies. Willie Yarborough who has driven John Madden’s famous bus for 20 years will attend, as will Gary Plummer, famous for the 49ers color commentary and for being a top player.
In attendance will be:
DAVE STEWART: In his 16 season career from 1978 through 1995 he played for the Dodgers and the Oakland A’s. In his career he finished in the league’s top ten in lowest ERA. He was the 1989 World Series MVP. He won four World Series in 1989 and 1993.
PEDRO GUERRERO: Former Dodger, he was a five-time All-Star and shared the World Series MVP in 1981 after he drove in five runs in the last game.
GREG CADARET: Pitched in the 1988 World Series for the Pennant winning Oakland A’s.
DOUG DECINCES: Former Oriole, he batted .316, was named an All-Star in 1983, and had a .297 lifetime average.
MIKE FELDER: Former Brewer, appeared on the league’s top ten list of stolen bases and triples.
BOBBY GRICH: An Oakland A and six time All-Star, he also won four Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs in 1981, and was first inductee into the Angels Hall of Fame.
TIM MCINTOSH: A member of the 1996 World Champion Yankees.
MIKE NORRIS: All-Star and Gold Glove, he pitched 10 seasons with the Oakland A’s.
BILL NORTH: Finished second in steals in 1979 with 58, which was a San Francisco Giants record.
BLUE MOON ODOM: Helped the Oakland A’s to three straight World Championships.
BROOKS ROBINSON: With the Orioles, was the All-Star MVP in 1966 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.
RON ROBINSON: With the Reds, came within one pitch of a perfect game in 1988 against the Expos.
“The Stanford Cancer Center is designed to focus on the patient, and the Concierge Service is part of that focus. We offer continuity of care to patients and personalized attention throughout their care at Stanford,” says Holly Gautier, R.N., of Stanford’s Concierge Services. “We have about 67,000 patient visits each month, and our services are available to all patients and their families.”
Cancer Concierge Services is a reality due to the generosity of Shirley and Mike Orsak, and Stanford Hospital’s vision for innovative program. “The Orsaks want to have the service available to all patients, so that everyone who comes through the door feels safe, welcome, and at ease,” says Barbara Ralston, the head of Stanford’s Concierge Services.
Seagate, the title sponsor for Fore the Care, is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of hard disc drives. Seagate was named 2006 Company of the Year by Forbes Magazine.
For more information about the golf tournament: http://forethecare.org/