Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive;
and he shall be blessed upon the earth:

Long Road Home
Acoustic duets with a rich chemistry...
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- Childrens Miracle Network Buffalo Bills Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and other NFL Greats In Sixth Annual Ace Hardware Golf Shootout Raising Nearly $1.8 For Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

January 29, 2003

Honolulu, Hawaii  As impressive as they may be, the NFL Hall of Famers and Pro Bowlers golfing at Ko Olina Golf Club at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa today will be the first to admit they arenít the real champions.  That would be the 17 million kids treated in Children's Miracle Network hospitals each year. The nine NFL greats competed in the sixth annual Ace Hardware Golf Shootout with a total purse of nearly $1.8 million to be raised for 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.

This was not your run-of-the-mill charity golf tournament. Rather, it was a fun-filled, made-for-TV golf skills challenge. Rod Woodson (Oakland Raiders), Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Franco Harris, Jim Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, Deacon Jones, Drew Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills), and Chad Lewis (Philadelphia Eagles) were paired into three-man teams and tested in six golf shots, the drive, medium iron shot, trouble shot, pitch shot, bunker shot and, of course, putting.

Each of today's players had an honorary caddie, a child who was, or is being successfully treated at a Children's Miracle Network hospital. Each child has an inspirational story that reminded everyone involved of the community's support of children's hospitals.

One of the most remarkable stories is that of Mallory Code, an 18-year-old junior golfer ranked nationally in the top 15 with a drive that is the envy of many an athlete, inside or outside the Hall of Fame. Code's accomplishments would be impressive even if she didnít have cystic fibrosis, asthma, and diabetes. But she doesn't let any of those distractions stop her.

" When I was born, the average lifespan for someone with cystic fibrosis was 18 years old," said Code. "Well, here I am, and I've never felt more healthy. And that's because of what Children's Miracle Network and it's sponsors have been able to do during that time," she said. "Who wants to be average? I don't want to be an average golfer. I don't want to be an average student. I don't want to be just average at anything."

Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris was amazed at Code's fortitude. "When I see kids like Mallory and think what they must go through every day just to survive,"said Harris, "I know who the real champions are.  I took some pretty good hits in my day, but they're nothing compared to what these kids deal with every day of their lives"

The event also featured a special contest where Code and the NFL players attempted a 150-yard medium-iron shot for a chance to win $1 million.

This is the fifth year of the event, which Ace Hardware has sponsored since its inception. In fact Ace and its thousands of retail outlets throughout North America have been raising funds in behalf of Children's Miracle Network since 1990, a total of $25 million over the 13 years.  Commenting on the longstanding relationship between the two organizations, Ace Hardware President & CEO, David Hodnik said, "We're proud of the amazing team of Ace retailers, vendors and corporate employees who continue to show that Ace is the place for caring.  And knowing that through Children's Miracle Network the dollars raised stay local, benefiting the children in each of our own neighborhoods, makes us that much more proud of our contribution through the Golf Shootout and other events"

The event was produced by NFL Films and will air in August, at the start of next year's NFL season, on FOX Sports Net.
 
 
 
 

CNN's Larry King  Recieves Children's  Miracle  Awards April 2003 Larry King's  Cardiac Foundation has played a major role in saving the lives of children  from around the world It seeks out those who cannot afford the life-saving cardiac procedures they need.  Children's Miracle Network   honored him with the Children's Miracle Achievement Award  in April 2003  ( Orlando Fl)

Al Green Headlines 40th Annual Shower Of Stars For St.Judes Childrens Research April 23, 2003 Their mission – to find cures for children with catastrophic illness through research and treatment – is a constant driving force. It is through the pursuit of that mission, that we seize every opportunity to help the children who come to us for care and, in so doing, to create new knowledge that will help children throughout the world. (Memphis Tn.)

KS95 Radio's  Van And Cheryl For Gillette Childrens  Hospital March 2003 Minneapolis /St. Pauls's KS95 Radio Station's Van And Cheryl Raised  Over a Million Dollars  in March 2003  for Gillettes Childrens Hospital "Kids With Cancer"  in a Four Day  Radio Marathon (Minneapolis Mn.)