When Reynolds Lake Oconee member, Becky Smith, was challenged on Facebook by fellow resident and friend, Anna Lawton in the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge,” she immediately thought of her good friend Wanda Kurka. “Wanda had told me a few weeks earlier about her sister-in-law, Marcia Frey of York, Pa. who was recently diagnosed with ALS,” said Smith. “When I saw this challenge and after Anna had challenged me, I told Wanda we need to do the Ice Bucket challenge for her sister-in-law.”
What started as a conversation quickly became a bigger initiative when Becky and Wanda decided to challenge their fellow golf team, “Hughes Team Play.” The team was formed in 2007 by Gloria Hughes; a huge advocate for women’s golf at Reynolds Lake Oconee who wanted a team play format similar to Ryder Cup for female residents of the community. Four teams were formed and named for community courses: Great Waters, Plantation, Oconee and National. The group plays monthly where point totals are kept and at the end of the season a trophy is given to the winning team.
“It's a traveling trophy and it's bragging rights,” says Smith.
Hughes lost her own battle to ALS in 2011 and the group continues to pay tribute to her through their team name and with initiatives such as this. Besides remembering their friend Gloria and honoring Wanda’s sister-in-law in this particular effort, Hughes Team Play also remembered Robert Adams, an employee of the Great Waters golf course, who passed away from ALS about 2 years ago. Adams’ son, Brian, currently is a cart attendant at the Creek Club golf course.
The Hughes Team challenge took place at the Oconee golf course at Reynolds Lake Oconee last Thursday following a morning competition between group members. The staff at Oconee was more than willing to help the team in accommodating the challenge. A total of 24 participants dumped gallons of ice water on their heads with two members participating remotely at the same time. A total of 30 people were generous in writing a check to support the cause as well.
Hughes Team Play Video
As for the challenge from Hughes Team Play – they put that onto the Reynolds Men’s Golf Association, who did their challenge just three days later following their own golf outing.
Plantation Men’s Golf Association Video
“The Hughes Ice Bucket challenge is over $2000 and I tallied over $700 from the men,” says Smith. “Also, Tom Aversa from the Men’s Golf Association put the information in all the golf carts, so I'm sure that as ‘Team Reynolds’, we will surpass $3000 while the national number raised has surpassed $72 million.”
Smith, Kurka and the Hughes Team even were able to get Vice President of Golf Operations, Mark Lammi in on the awareness campaign as well. “I reached out to Mark and he inquired about more details and so I challenged him too,” said Smith. “He said if you raise $500, I’ll participate.”
Mark Lammi Video
“It was a great day and a great cause that’s certainly near and dear to all our hearts,” said Smith.
