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27 Years at the Golf Tournament & Auction

As the concern for rain was building, the morning of Monday, May 19 proved to be a warm, dry one as committee members, volunteers, and Friends of Kids with Cancer board members and staff arrived to set up the 27th Annual Golf Tournament & Auction.

As guests arrived, Russo's Gourmet Catering served up a delicious and hearty breakfast alongside drinks like coffee and Bloody Marys. Golfers began buying tickets for raffles and the biggest whiskey pull in event history and started placing their bids for coveted Silent Auction items.

Soon, special guests arrived to speak to the crowd of over 300, inspiring golfers to have a great game for an even greater cause.

"The work that this charity does, whether it's counseling or tutoring means so much. I just want to say thank you. The St. Louis community is so amazing. There's so many people you see every year here at this tournament and it means a lot. I couldn't be happier to be here in St. Louis." —Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues Center

Honorary event co-chair, Robert Thomas, Center for the St. Louis Blues, introduced our special morning guest, Bell, who talked about her young life facing cancer and how Friends of Kids with Cancer has helped her family along the way.

"I was petrified and at a loss for words. Friends of Kids with Cancer sent a Music Therapist, Cara, to sit with me and play music to help me calm down before my first operation. She has become one of my dearest friends.

Friends of Kids with Cancer stepped in and adopted my family for Christmas knowing my mom and dad were in the hospital with me and didn't have time to buy presents for Christmas.

Friends of kids with Cancer and the team at Mercy Clinic have wrapped their arms around me and my family throughout my treatment. The support and efforts of people like you here today make these programs and events possible." —Bell, age 13

For over 25 years, Rick Lommel has chaired this event, planning each detail to make this the premium St. Louis charity golf tournament alongside committee members, volunteers, and Friends staff and Board.

During the evening program, Rick handed the microphone to his co-chair and son, Ryan Lommel, for the first time "passing the torch" for future generations of Golf Tournament committee chairs. Rick spoke to his recent retirement from his career and how much money this event has brought in to the charity since it's inception—nearly $5,000,000.

Ryan Lommel introduced our evening special guest, Noah, who spoke about his experience as a young adult diagnosed with cancer during his first semester of college.

"Through Friends, I joined the AYA support group—monthly meetings where we laugh, talk about treatments, and provide advice and support for new patients. These weren't just social moments that I attended, they were survival moments. I found community, joy, and people who saw me for more than my cancer diagnosis.

This past semester, Friends provided me with something I am eternally grateful for. A scholarship to help pay for my final semester of college. Friends' acts of generosity ensured that I could walk across graduation just last week, healthy and in remission and on track to teach math to the next generation.

The truth is, this journey would have looked very different without Friends, and friends who I've made through this organization, both staff and fellow survivors. They've helped me stay grounded, gave me something to look forward to, and reminded me that even in the midst of cancer, we're allowed to laugh, celebrate, and live." —Noah, age 23

Robert Thomas, Bell, and Noah aren't the only people struck by the community's generosity by giving at this event. Tegan Wylde of Ben Hur Construction Co. posted about her experience on LinkedIn.

"Yesterday's golf tournament wasn’t just a day on the course—it was a reminder of the power of compassion, community, and purpose. ...it was so much more than a fundraiser. This incredible organization holds a special place in my heart for the unwavering support they provide to children and families battling cancer." —Tegan Wylde, Business Development at Ben Hur Construction Co.

We thank the incredible unwavering support of our long-time sponsors and attendees of this event, as well as those new to this event. Without the help of kind donors, sponsors, and volunteers, Friends of Kids with Cancer could not meet our mission of enriching the daily lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families.