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Every September my husband and I have organized and run The Hoffstatter Open Benefit Golf Tournament, in memory of Victoria Hoffstatter Trice. The proceeds from this fundraising event go to the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. This chapter is a patient-oriented, nonprofit, voluntary health agency that provides support services to individuals living with Lupus. This includes education of patients and professionals, patient advocacy, and resource development, promoting public awareness about Lupus, and to support research into the cause and cure of Lupus. This incurable disease effects more people than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis combined. Through our efforts and with the help of our family and friends and the sponsorships from the local business community we have now raised over $27,650.00 for the Hudson Valley Chapter of The Lupus Foundation of America. This event began as an outing for bad and non-golfers to have a chance to play in a tournament together (which was also a reunion for the Hoffstatter family and friends.) The Hoffstatter family is a very large close family who had lost their oldest sister to complications from Lupus. When our first tournament was being planned we could not forget the one member of the family that was no longer with us who we love and miss very much. We remember her and keep her with us by pulling together as a family in the spirit of love and fun that she shared with us, and use this event to help others who are suffering from the illness that took her from us.
The tournament is a nine hole golf scramble followed by a prime rib dinner and dancing combined with the largest golf tournament gift raffle of its kind. This year 96 friends and family members played the links in 2-3 teams of 4 per hole, the youngest being 12 and the oldest 80+. Each team was assigned a beginning hole at the shot gun start and the best ball hit was played by each team member. The combined efforts were used for that teams score. Our family could not have found a better way to express our love for our sister Vicky, and to preserve her memory by helping others who suffer from Lupus, as she did.
We hope that others who have been touched by this disease will find the strength to see their lives in a positive way and will help make a difference in the lives of others.
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