In May, Morehead’s Eagle Trace Golf Course hosted the 30th Annual Rocky and Leah Adkins Cure for Cancer Golf Tournament. This year, dozens of sponsors from around the Commonwealth came together to raise money for cancer research and services for Kentuckians undergoing cancer treatment.
“Everybody here has been impacted by cancer in some shape form or fashion,” said Rocky Adkins, founder of the Rocky and Leah Adkins Cure for Cancer Golf Tournament. And he’s not wrong.
Though Kentucky has seen a slow but steady decrease in cancer rates over the last few years, in some parts of the state, cancer remains a very common and serious health concern. Data from the National Cancer Institute shows that eastern Kentucky counties have a concerningly low rate of cancer screenings.
“Catch this disease at an early stage where you’ve got a chance to be cured, to be treated, and to live a healthy life,” added Adkins.
That’s what the tournament aims to help people do and organizers said this year was one of the most successful in the three decades since it began. Nearly $200,000 was raised to assist UK Kings Daughters in the fight against cancer.
Adkins was there the whole day to support the many teams that participated. He said the idea for this tournament started when he received a grave diagnosis of his own.
“I’m a 31-year cancer survivor and ever since my diagnosis, after my surgery, after chemo, after radiation, I just had this real urge to want to give back and help in some way with the fight against cancer and cancer patients because I know what I went through,” said Adkins. “From that, I wanted to give back and show my support in trying to help cancer patients and their families that suffer from this disease.”
Even though the weather was less than ideal for a round of golf, people came out in droves to support the cause. Adkins added he chose a golf tournament to raise funding because it is a fun way to bring dozens of people together while making a big difference.
“There’s a commitment here from people who play here, and they love this tournament because they feel a part of it. That’s’ the reason I decided to do a golf tournament. It’s a time where a lot of people get together, these are a lot of friends of mine out here, there’s new people playing this year that’s never played before. So, it has just continued to grow over the years,” said Adkins.
Another attendee of the tournament was the director of the Kings Daughters Health Foundation, Laura Patrick. She said for the last several years funding has gone to the foundation to help bolster cancer screenings and prevention efforts across the region.
“It does benefit our Oncology Center of Excellence, which, over the years, has been our technology upgrades, patient treatment, and diagnostics. Some well noted things are the mobile mammography units,” said Patrick.
She added recently the foundation obtained a new mobile mammography unit with state-of-the-art screening equipment. Patrick said the funding also benefits those who are in the midst of treatment.
“It’s also helped renovate our Oncology Center of Excellence. It’s better waiting rooms, better infusion chairs, that are more comfortable for the patients, which is definitely important,” she added. “We assist patients that are uninsured or underinsured or need special assistance throughout their treatment.”
Funding is also used for services like transportation in the form of gas cards and a van ministry.
This year, the team representing the Big Sandy Superstores won the a.m. flight of the tournament and Jaxon Salyers and Team won the afternoon flight. This year’s tournament brought the effort’s to-date fundraising total to over $4,000,000. Adkins said it is inspiring to see so many people show up to support a cause that has touched the lives of so many people.
“The parking lot is completely full, it’s pouring the rain and everybody is still here. Yeah, they want to play golf, but they’re here for the effort, they’re here for the cause. It’s not only about Rocky and Leah Adkins, it’s about them personally,” he said.