There was excitement in the air–literally– shortly before 10:00 a.m., at Cross Creek Golf Course, 15523 Henry Road, Morrison, IL. The 8th Annual Make Teal Real Ovarian Cancer Awareness golf outing was about to begin on Saturday, June 28, 2014. Morrison seven-year-old Mikadyn Jakubs, left, four-year-old Jacob Nicholas of Dixon, IL, center, and Morrison eight-year-old Emery Brewer watched for a distant helicopter to take flight.
Across the grass sat a red, Nelson Enterprises, R44, chopper. Into the Raven II climbed Mike Anderson and Zach Houzenga, taking passenger seats beside an open cargo door. Each man held a bucket of 225 numbered golf balls.
As adults and children gazed skyward, the pilot circled widely away from the crowd, then returned to hover over the practice hole. This allowed Anderson and Houzenga to shower the ground. Supporters of the fundraiser event had purchased “over 900” balls, stated committee member Katie Jakubs. So, the chopper returned to ground and waited as fresh buckets, totaling 450 balls, were loaded for round two. Anderson and Houzenga again delivered their payload, to the cheers of observers.
Clever committee members Sandy Grau, Laini Houzenga, Katie Jakubs, Maggie Jones, and Julie Nicklaus devised a unique way to raise funds. Jakubs stated Jones had the idea for the “Chopper Dropper” event. If a dropped ball had landed in the hole, the ticket holder would have won a gas card.
Devin Letcher, of Camanche, IA, had the #60 ball, which fell closest to the pin (1.5″ away) and earned its owner $600. The second-closest ball (2.5″) was #263 and earned Morrison’s Barb Kophamer $300.
Golfers later took part in a four-person, best-ball event with a shotgun start at 11:00 a.m.
The uses of money raised are comprehensive.
- It will fund two $1000 Morrison High School scholarships for graduating students who will pursue a medical career.
- It will aid families battling cancer with medical expenses and fund women’s education to detect and fight cancer.
- It will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.