Lewis Family Cancer Fund Swings for the Cure for 14th Year
by James Coulter
Josh Lewis’ brother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2007. Two years later, the two of them decided to start the Lewis Family Cancer Fund to help give back to the community and help other people struggling with cancer.
14 years later, and while Josh’s brother had since passed away in 2015, his legacy lives on with the annual Swing for the Cure golf tournament hosted last weekend by the Lewis Family Cancer Fund.
The annual fundraiser kicked off with the kick-off dinner, hosted Friday evening at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven. Attendees were able to enjoy food and drinks, place bets on raffle prizes, and enjoy an evening with live music.
As with every previous year, this year’s tournament was sold out with 25 teams participating. Every year sells out with teams waiting on waiting lists, Lewis said.
Proceeds from this year’s event went toward the Winter Haven Hospital Cassidy Cancer Center. Most proceeds benefit local causes to help people and their loved ones struggling with cancer. Previous events have benefited the Arnold Palmer Pediatric Cancer Unit in Orlando, the Good Shepherd Hospice in Lakeland, and Inheritance of Hope.
Since its inception 14 years ago, Swing For The Cure has remained successful for many reasons. One big reason has been Fuzzy Zoeller, a 10-time PGA Tour-winning American professional golfer. Fuzzy has been involved with Josh Lewis and his family since his mother’s passing in 1987. Since then, the pro golfer has wholeheartedly supported them.
Perhaps the biggest key to the event’s success has been the community’s involvement. Year after year, golfers keep attending to support the cause, and seeing so many people come out to support them has proven nothing less than motivational, Lewis said.
“The most I enjoy are the people coming here to talk about my brother and his legacy, what he started, and how grateful they are and appreciative of what we are doing, and that means the most of everything,” he said. “Seeing people come to support a great cause, we thank everyone in the community for staying a big part of this, because without this, we couldn’t do it.”
