Grand Harbor Club residents took a big swing at raising funds for cancer care during the annual Answer to Cancer day of activities, which included tennis, pickleball, and a 9-hole shotgun golf scramble.

With more than 300 people participating, they scored big and expect to have raised a record amount, according to Jeanine Nestor, chair of Answer to Cancer.

After a day on the courts and the greens, the competition continued with a putting contest and golf shootout, all leading up to a cocktail reception and dinner on the putting green behind the clubhouse, where a wide array of silent auction and raffle items tempted buyers.

The annual event was co-founded 15 years ago by the late Carole Plante and the late Don Casey as a way to provide financial assistance to support patients and families not covered by Medicare or private insurance during their cancer journey. To date, Answer to Cancer has raised and distributed more than $1.1 million to help improve the lives of cancer patients.

Proceeds from the day directly fund patient care initiatives through the Integrated Medicine Program of the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital Scully-Welsh Cancer Center, which integrates complementary and alternative medicine options alongside traditional oncology treatments.

The Integrative Medicine Program focuses on patients’ physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. It features 20 services, including music and art therapy, acupuncture, palliative care, behavioral health, massage therapy, yoga, pet therapy, nutrition advice, and counseling to improve the patient’s overall quality of life.

This year the program will be adding a weekly high tea, said Dr. Brian Burkey, SWCC interim medical director. They are also expanding the outpatient infusion center, have dedicated rooms for massage and art therapy, and an increase in staff will allow for additional services and innovative treatments.

“You’re making cancer care super navigable for our cancer patients. It’s getting harder and harder in this environment to provide the chemotherapy that everyone needs and wants,” said Burkey.

“Insurance doesn’t want to pay for it. We’ve aligned with pharmacy and people in Cleveland to help us figure out how to be able to preserve all of our treatments, and thus far, we’re doing so and making it sustainable into the future,” Burkey added, noting that funding cutbacks in Florida have compounded the issue.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Burkey and his team to identify patient-centric programs to fund,” said Nestor.

For more information, visit AnswerToCancer.info.

Photos by Stephanie LaBaff

: Dr. Brian Burkey and Jeanine Nestor

: Susanne and Doug Sweeny

: (Front) Marianne Alciati, Jeanine Nestor, Suzanne Lindros, Cynthia Hovda and Georgene Grennan, (Rear) Linda Kofoed, John Kitson, Maureen Kahrmann, Linda Pease and Laura Rutenis