VERO BEACH — When Pat Brandt moved to Vero Beach from Indianapolis almost four years ago, she immediately put her background as an event planner to good use. Brandt assembled a “Fling Team” of friends and fellow golfers and started the Flamingo Fling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament at Pointe West which hosted its third tournament on Sunday, March 21. Organizers expected to raise $10,000 at the pink-themed event, more than double the amount elicited in its first year. Donations from the first two tournaments were donated to the Susan B. Koman Rally for the Cure, but this time the committee opted to partner with the Treasure Coast American Cancer Society. Funds raised this year will be used to benefit patient programs and services solely in Indian River County.
“We wanted to keep it local,” said Brandt. “The money will go toward services for breast cancer patients right here in Indian River. The response from residents of Pointe West and the whole community has been great.”
The rains held off until the very end of the tournament, allowing most of the 96 players to make it back to The Club at Pointe West before the heavens opened up. Another 30 guests joined the festivities for the award dinner, where Chef Andrew Keller showed off his wonderful culinary skills with delicious dinner highlighted by filet mignon topped with a shrimp scampi crown.
“We stopped with three holes to go,” said DeDe Ashby. “We had all birdies on the front nine thanks to Jill [Kelley]; she’s the golfer in the group. But I’m not going to kill myself by getting hit by lightening.” Then she added with a smile, “We’re the only all-girl team anyway so we’ll still win our category.”
Britney Faulk was cute as can be as Flamingo Fanny. She has held the position all three years, and her creative costume and flamboyant golf cart elicited smiles all afternoon as she delivered snacks to players on the course.
A huge selection of live and silent auction items and raffle prizes had been donated by area merchants, country clubs, Pointe West residents and committee members. Additionally, physicians from Compassionate Medical Center and Vero Radiology donated mammograms and bone density exams for women in need, and Busy Bee Lawn and Garden Center contributed pink plants to the Flower Ribbon Honor Garden. Even the City of Vero Beach got into the act, donating boxes filled with a variety of conservation items.
Terri Schmalfuss put the reason for the event in prospective saying, “My three very best friends are survivors and three others are angels now.”
Schmalfuss is also the Team Development Chair for the October Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Her MSABC team, Friends Fighting for Friends, includes seven cancer survivors.
“My father and mother both had cancer. It’s important to me to fight the disease so that my daughter and grandsons don’t have to deal with it.” {igallery 169}