Community Cheerleaders

Charles "Butch" Price knew little about cancer or fundraising when he received a call eight years ago from a neighbor asking for a little help. The neighbor, a fellow member at the Dunwoody Country Club in Atlanta, was asking for Price's assistance planning a golf tournament at the club to raise money for prostate cancer research. "Sure," Price said. Little did he know he'd end up chairing the event three or four times in subsequent years. And little did he know the event would eventually go from raising $28,000 a year for Winship to $225,000 in 2016.

The golf tournament eventually became known as the John H. Kauffman Prostate Cancer Fundraiser at Dunwoody Country Club. Thanks to a committee of dedicated individuals, the event has expanded to include a live and silent auction, a reception, and a dinner for tournament participants and Winship scientists.

At Winship, Dunwoody Country Club became known as a model of a community fundraiser, providing important financial support to jumpstart innovative research projects that explore new ways to outsmart cancer and lead to better treatments.

Other communities passionate about Winship's cancer research have taken notice, starting their own annual fundraisers. Those include a golf tournament at the Country
Club of Roswell as well as the Tina Borg 5K Race in Athens, Georgia, honoring former Winship patient Tina Borg. The newest community fundraiser, a car group called the Peach State Challengers, put on its first Cars vs Cancer Car Show in 2016. Although members of the group are Dodge Challenger owners, the car show was open to any make and model, "since cancer doesn’t discriminate."

"We really appreciate these events because they come from the heart and engage members of the community in unique and creative ways," says David Edwards, senior
director of development at Winship. "Winship is doing the kind of work that gives cancer patients new options. These funds help support that work."

Butch Price continues to be involved in organizing Dunwoody Country Club's annual event. While he was first drawn in because of his neighbor, he and other members of the Dunwoody Country Club have become passionate supporters of Winship. "Ultimately all of us are touched by cancer at some point in some way," he says. "To be able to see how Winship doctors are attacking cancer and helping people is really rewarding."