WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Building on its success as the premier Pro-Net Tour in the Mid-Atlantic, the Tournament Golf Association of America (TGAA) is proud to announce a new program called “Birdies for a Cure” benefiting Johns Hopkins Medicine – The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research.
The design behind “Birdies for a Cure” is to help fund Dr. Ivan Borrello’s multiple myeloma research at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research was founded by Dennis M. Baca, President and CEO of the Tournament Golf Association of America (TGAA). Dennis, an avid golfer, a Multiple Myeloma patient and part of Dr. Borrello’s Multiple Myeloma Research Project at Johns Hopkins, is the grandson of Mr. Ercole Comini. In an effort to help fund the research geared at making Multiple Myeloma a manageable or chronic disease and not the terminal disease that it currently is, the “Birdies for a Cure” will help to possibly put multiple myeloma into history as a cured disease. Ercole Comini was diagnosed with this disease in August 1980 and died nine months later. Dennis was diagnosed in November 2005 with this terrible disease and struggles daily to cope with it…along with the thousands of Americans and countless others around the world who suffer from multiple myeloma.
The Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research was established to memorialize Mr. Comini and has been selected by the Tournament Golf Association of America, the premier Pro-Net golf tour in the Mid-Atlantic, as the regional charity recipient. The charity is working towards involving local, regional and national businesses, as well as local residents, to lend a hand in battling multiple myeloma. The charity has indicated that 100% of all contributions and donations will go towards Dr. Borrello’s research study at Johns Hopkins. The program, due to the unique nature of being a charity sponsor, allows for positive alignment with a worthy cause and is completely tax-deductible for the sponsor and/or contributor.
With the help of Multiple Myeloma sufferers, caregivers and local businesses, the Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research is moving forward in its battle to overcome multiple myeloma. You can be a part of this momentous movement by making a donation, by contributing directly or by sponsoring the “Birdies for a Cure” effort. With the help of the business community, some of the regions finest golf courses as well as local area residents, others now have the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause AND help Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in finding a cure for this beast of a disease. The Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research and the TGAA Tour today announced the launch of “Birdies for a Cure” -- a program that attracts charitable funding through the sponsorship of TGAA Tour players who score birdies throughout the season at many of the best daily fee courses in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Beginning June 1, individuals and businesses can commit through sponsorship of the program or direct contribution any dollar amount for every birdie recorded at every TGAA Tour event through the season ending TGAA Tour Championship at Virginia Oaks GC in Gainesville, VA.
As noted prior, 100% of all contributions will go directly to Dr. Ivan Borrello’s research study through the Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research. The number of birdies will be provided and updated weekly on the TGAA Tour Web Site (www.tgaatour.com) along with the names of the sponsors/contributors. For an additional contribution commitment, individuals can even select a local event where they might want to increase their dollar amount and watch the players at the course as the results are posted. All contributors will receive a certificate at the end of the season acknowledging their support of this worthwhile cause. All of the contributions collected will be presented to Dr. Ivan Borrello in the name of the Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research as a charitable gift in support of its program to defeat multiple myeloma in our lifetime.
“This is a noteworthy charity geared toward local success…” a local business member commented. The staff at the TGAA Tour also stated: “we are committed to providing to our members an exciting and personal experience at the tournaments. The ‘Birdies for a Cure’ program is a great way for the members and supporters to get involved in another level of the game. It helps us provide the needed funding for a cause we all care about— a cure for Multiple Myeloma.”
“Through the sponsorship of the TGAA Tour’s “Birdies for a Cure”, local area businesses, area residents and fans of the wonderful game of competitive golf will be supporting their community by supporting a cause they care about and everybody wins.” .“A commitment to this worthy cause would be the perfect gift for a true golf enthusiast and any humanitarian” said Carol Brooker, Executive Director of the Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research.
As Dr. Borrello said, “Any contribution is helpful no matter how small and will help in obtaining the needed tools to further this promising endeavor for myeloma patients and their families.” .
About the Ercole Comini Multiple Myeloma Charity
The Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research was founded by Dennis M. Baca, Ercole’s grandson and himself a Multiple Myeloma patient. Progress for myeloma sufferers is being made but still no cure. However, Dennis is a recipient of that progress and has now lived three times longer than his grandfather since diagnosis. He hopes that his kids and grandkids as well as those who currently have the disease do not have to sacrifice a quality of life because of the lack of funding in finding a cure. The Charity can be contacted at the address below:
Ercole Comini Multiple Myeloma Charity
7892 Virginia Oaks Drive
Gainesville, VA 20155
(703) 754-8285
Access to the website is as easy as clicking www.tgaatour.com or picking up the phone and making a contribution.
About “Birdies for a Cure”
“Birdies for a Cure” is a charitable fundraising program designed to raise money and awareness for Multiple Myeloma through sponsorship of birdies made by TGAA Pro-Net Tour golf professionals in the Mid-Atlantic. The program is administered by TGAA, LLC., a provider of professionally managed Pro-Net Tour events in addition to charity and corporate events in the Mid-Atlantic region. To learn more about “Birdies for the Cure,” visit www.tgaatour.com.
Sponsor these Pro-Net tour players and offer a solution to those here in the Mid-Atlantic, and to the all those afflicted by this devastating disease, the opportunity to get closer to a cure by visiting Ercole Comini Charity for Multiple Myeloma Research online at http://www.tgaatour.com/Charity and registering your gift for this worthwhile charity today!
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. While a myeloma diagnosis can be overwhelming, it is important to remember that there are several promising new therapies that are helping patients live longer, healthier lives. The estimated frequency of multiple myeloma is 5 to 7 new cases per 100,000 persons per year. Accordingly, in the United States, 19,920 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2008. There were more than 56,000 Americans living with multiple myeloma in 2005, the most current date these statistics are available.
Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It represents approximately 1% of all cancers in white US residents and 2% of cancers in black residents.
Recent statistics indicate both increasing incidence and earlier age of onset. The average age at diagnosis is 62 years for men and 61 years for women, and only 4% of cases are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 45. Approximately 56,200 Americans had myeloma in 2005 (the most current date these statistics are available) and the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 19,920 new cases of myeloma will be diagnosed during 2008.
Multiple myeloma occurs more frequently in men than women (of the estimated 19,920 new cases referenced above, 11,190 are expected to occur in men versus 8,730 in women). African Americans have the highest reported incidence of this disease and Asians the lowest. Among African Americans, myeloma is one of the leading causes of cancer death.
TGAA and Ercole Comini Charity - Media Contact:
Carol Brooker (703)-754-8285 or email cbrooker@tgaatour.com
