Views from the Shore
By Brian Cahill
Several years ago, I was asked to take a photo for a press release announcing that the Greate Bay Women’s Golf Association was donating more than $50,000 to Shore Cancer Center to help offset the expenses for local women battling cancer. The GBWGA raised this incredible amount of money from their “Swing” golf tournament, and it is extremely generous of the members of the GBWGA to volunteer and work so hard to provide this funding.
When I arrived at Greate Bay Country Club to take the photo, I had the privilege of meeting Sue Webb. Sue was the chairperson of the Swing Golf Tournament committee, and out of respect for her, I wanted to make sure she was front and center in the photo.
Sue told me that she appreciated that gesture but said that the tournament wasn’t about her – and that the focus should 100 percent be on the Association members and the women that the donation would help.
She told me that day that she was thrilled because they were all volunteers, and every dollar raised directly helped women in our community in need. “Some need help with their bills, some with transportation and others for wigs. It’s for whatever is necessary to help relieve some of the stress for women in their fight against cancer.”
She was very humble and very proud of her fellow GBWGA members. In four years, they raised more than $250,000 from the Swing tournament. The donations were made to the Auxiliary of Shore Medical Center, which in turn donates it to Shore Cancer Center. The dollars are then earmarked to be used exclusively to help female cancer patients.
Sadly, Sue passed away on July 14, 2020. After two years, her partner and wife of 23 years, Pat Cowan, is now committed to resuming the Swing tournament in her honor. “Sue would want to carry this on,” said Pat. “I have so many handwritten thank you notes and stories from women we’ve helped. I could not save Sue, but if I can help improve the quality of life for just one person, it’s all worth it.”
The 2022 GBWGA’s Swing Golf tournament will be held on Thursday, September 29, at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point, with registration and a BBQ lunch beginning at 1 pm. For sponsorship and participation, contact Lisa DiTroia, Director of the Auxiliary for Shore Medical Center, at lditroia@shoremedicalcenter.org or call 609-653-4646.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center and Shore Physicians Group. He is also on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University, and is a founding member of Somers Point-Community First, a local volunteer organization.
