Helping raise funds for a young, local gentleman and his family, who's recently gone through an extensive operation, a very special Heart to Heart Open Golf Tournament and two-man-scramble will take place Saturday, Aug. 25, at The Plantation Golf and Country Club, 10500 Dartington Drive, Fort Myers, with registration at 8 a.m. and a shotgun start at 8:30.
"Everything has been coming along very nicely, and we have graciously received much-needed community support," said Ryan Danis, owner of Danis Insurance, avid golfer and friend and colleague of the recipient to this benefit. "This tournament is for Team Vandenberg, a local family from South Africa."
Ryan explains Craig's condition.
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A Heart to Heart Open Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, to help the Vandenberg family, after their father, Craig, recently went through extensive heart surgery and other intense procedures. All are welcome to join. Photo courtesy Sheryl Vandenberg.
"At 19, the family's father, Craig Vandenberg, got pneumonia in South Africa. He didn't get treatment in time, and it made an infection around his heart wall, enlarging his heart. He's been on a pacemaker since he was 19. The pacemaker recently stopped working, and he didn't know it. Luckily, doctors found out in time and were able to repair his heart valve. Once they did that, now regulating his heart, the blood flow was then overpowering his liver and kidneys, and he had to go into an induced coma. He's only 34 years old. He's been out of work now for three months, and we're holding this fund-raiser to help his family with bills and expenses."
During the benefit, Ryan said there will be several 50/50 raffles, raffle prize giveaways, a closest-to-the-pin contest and even a $25,000 cash prize to the player who makes a hole-in-one on a certain hole that day.
"The golf course is beautiful. I'm an avid golfer, and it literally is one of the nicest golf courses in the county," Ryan said. "The cost that day is $100 per player, which includes green fees, range balls, entrance into all of the raffles, prizes and giveaways, and a full buffet lunch at the country club that day. We may also host benefits in the future, to help continue helping Craig and his family."
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If any business is interested in making a donation to the raffle prizes, please call Ryan at 810-9156.
Pre-registration to the golf tournament is very much appreciated, as well as cash or check sign-ups, as there most likely will not be a credit card machine on the greens that day.
To pre-register, call Ryan at 810-9156 or email RyanDanis@gmail.com. Also be sure to visit the tournament's Facebook page, by visiting Facebook.com and searching "Heart to Heart Open Golf Tournament."
