For the 31st consecutive year, Okefenoke REMC held its annual Golf Tournament to raise money for the Southeast Cancer Unit, Inc. The tournament—presented by Oglethorpe Power/Georgia Transmission Corporation/Georgia System Operations—raised $19,000 to help support cancer patients undergoing treatment in Brantley, Pierce and Ware counties with medical and travel expenses related to their care.

Accepting the check from OREMC was Linda Henderson—along with her sister Carol McQuaid and brother Larry Lee— with the Brantley Branch of the Southeast Cancer Unit, Inc. (SECU) She said, “Fundraising has been difficult the past couple of years due to COVID. We haven’t been able to do many of the activities we usually do, so this means so much and we appreciate all the hard work that goes into the tournament to make a donation like this possible.”

In recent years OREMC has significantly enhanced the golf tournament experience and increased the monies raised for the SECU. Tournament sponsors and donors have played a key role in ramping up OREMC’s fundraising efforts. In addition to the presenting sponsor, major sponsors included: EnerVision, Links/Hospitality Sponsor; Altec, Towel Sponsor; Southeastern Bank, Golf Ball Sponsor; Cart Sponsors Asplundh, Current Edge Solutions, Greer Wealth Advisors, Irby Utilities and Pike Electric; and Fairway Sponsors Tri-State Utility Products, Brantley Beacon/Waycross Journal-Herald, GRESCO, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Meridian Cooperative and Mountaineer Electric. A special thank you also goes to Canaday Grocery in St. George for their donation of meat to feed the golfers and volunteers.

Local Cancer Patients the Real Beneficiaries

 But the real beneficiaries of OREMC’s day of fun, fellowship and fundraising are friends and neighbors in the community battling cancer. When Carolyn Carter of Hoboken was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008 gas prices were high, and she traveled to Brunswick for five weeks of chemotherapy followed by 30 days of radiation. Henderson reached out to her and asked her what she needed. Carter noted, “I knew about the Southeast Cancer Unit, but I would never ask for anything. Then Linda offered and the money was so helpful. I had people driving me because I couldn’t. I really admire Linda and the others for what they are doing. It is a wonderful thing.”

 Joe Shear of Waycross agrees, but unlike Carter he was not familiar with SECU. “I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in my colon in June 2020. My first colonoscopy was at age 67 after a Cologuard test put up a red flag—let that be a lesson, don’t wait to have a colonoscopy. Between travel for treatment and medications, those extra costs add up. My pharmacy told me about the Southeast Cancer Unit and I called Linda. The money for medications and gas cards have been a godsend. It took a lot of worry off of me.”

 Shear has ongoing treatment, and his surgeon is in Savannah. He says he is indebted to the Southeast Cancer Unit and encourages anyone undergoing cancer treatment who needs help to reach out: “Don’t hesitate. They are wonderful people and eager to help.”

 If you are a resident of Brantley, Pierce or Ware County undergoing treatment for cancer, and need financial assistance with care related expenses, please contact the Southeast Cancer Unit, Inc. at 912-287-2008.

Pictured (l-r) Presenting the check are Tournament Coordinators Michael Hickox and Michele Hutchins, General Manager John Middleton, Golf Committee Members Kaylen Gill, Nancy White, and Elizabeth Hughes, and accepting the check are Carol McQuaid, Linda Henderson and Larry Lee.