BK Invitational Golf Tournament
The BK Invitational is our signature, annual fundraising event. The golf tournament takes place at Woodloch Springs Country Club in Hawley, PA. Family, friends and corporate sponsors join together for the event that includes, golf, Texas Hold em, live entertainment, awards, food & drink. Due to growing numbers over the years, we have grown to a 2-day event with two groups, one playing Sunday and another on Monday. A cocktail party, dinner & awards for all participants & sponsors completes the event Monday evening at the Inn at Woodloch. It is an inspiring weekend that brings us all together to create hope for others affected by cancer.
2012 BK Invitational Re-Cap
We actually had two beautiful days for the event this year - a first! It was another amazing event with tremendous support of over 80 sponsors along with 260+ golfers & 300 for the closing banquet! A sincere thank you goes out to all including our volunteers & the Woodloch Team. The spirit of the event was as strong as ever as we joined for the 13th Annual BK Invitational.
One of the emotional moments for me this year was having my oldes son Zach & several of friends participating in the tournament – not did they participate, they WON Sudays’s tournament! Jen & I found out we were pregnant with Zach only days before my transplant in Seattle. This miracle was incredibly inpsiring & motivational for both us to fight harder & beat my disease.
Stehpanie Henderson joined us from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA to offer her gratitude for our contributions & committement to immunotherapy. She shared the progress & potential of this new groundbreaking research that is being conducted at The Hutch. Dr. Applebaum & Dr. Riddell provided a video message of hope & promise with this new therapy as well.
We had several representatives from the Penn State Cancer Institute including my personal oncologist Dr. James Ballard along with Dr. J Stanley Smith & Dr. David Claxton who shared his most recent research focus involving AML. Dr. Claxton & his team at the Penn State Cancer Institute are leading the way with new discoveries of how to better understand & treat AML (a form of Leukemia). A portion of our proceeds fund this worhty research being done at the PSHMC.
We were proud to officially be recognized as one of the LIVESTRONG Day events again this year which brings attention on a national & international level to cancer. We shared the latest video update & progress the LIVESTRONG Organization has made over the past fifteen years. We have been a strong supporter of the LIVESTRONG effort over the past 13 years. Most recently, we have become proud members of the Presiedent’s Circle.
There were several “homemade” videos presented this year which entertained the crowd & were produced by my son Zach Kiesendahl! We made a grand enterance mocking the James Bond & Queen of England opening ceremony of the Olympics along with our own version of “Call me Maybe”. One of the highlights is always the “Faces of the BK” video which features YOU on the course during the event! We will have all these up on our site for your viewing pleasure….
The take-away from this year was a strong message of hope & progress. More & more advancements in research & treatments are happening at a rapid pace. I am committed to doing all that I can to continue the fight against cancer & support this progress through the leading institutions & organizations which we support. None of this is possible with out YOU. I thank you for your unwavering support for this cause & your friendship. I can’t wait until next year! LIVESTRONG!
14th ANNUAL BK INVITATIONAL will be held on Sunday, October 6 & Monday, October 7, 2013
