On Monday, October 5, 32 golfers hit the links at Stonehenge Country Club in Midlothian for a golf tournament with a twist. Each golfer was asked to raise $500 prior to the event using personal fundraising pages. Each golfer also came prepared to play 36 holes of golf; the first 18 holes would be walking! Walking the course was specifically designed to honor PJ Gaier, who died in 2004 while training for a triathlon that benefited The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. PJ alone raised more than $10,500 to help find a cure. “PJ was a true inspiration to everyone who met him,” said former business partner and long-time friend, David Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse was the driving force behind the golf tournament, and had been feeling the need to create an event to honor his friend for quite some time. He and his family also had become involved with Connor’s Heroes as volunteers. Says Rittenhouse, “This seemed like the perfect opportunity to honor PJ and to continue his legacy by raising money for childhood cancer.”

This first annual golf tournament raised over $20,000 for Connor’s Heroes. Not only did many golfers raise more than the required $500, but golfers also bid on silent auction items and made personal donations. Golfers enjoyed fabulous food prepared and served by Gibson’s Grill and its owner, Johnny Giavos. Giavos and his restaurants have supported Connor’s Heroes’ golf tournaments for several years. Other key sponsors included local companies BEX Logistics and BagBoy. BEX is the courier company Mr. Gaier originally started on Cary St. in 1987 and Bagboy donated new push carts for the walking round. BagBoy is widely recognized as a leader in the walking cart business.