The 13th Annual Howard H. Belkin Memorial Golf Tournament
By Robin Vinci | Editor at August 18, 2023 | 7:45 pm | Print
On Sept 12 The 13th Annual Howard H. Belkin Memorial Golf Tournament will take place at Shuttle Meadow Golf Course in Kensington.
It is a fundraiser to support leading edge breast cancer research in Connecticut.
In 12 years the tournament has raised about $350,000 for breast cancer education. Every year the CT Breast Health Initiative (CT-BHI) remembers its founding chairman, Howard K. Belkin, for his spirit and unwavering desire to find a cure for breast cancer.
According the CT-BHI, “He was a local attorney, State of Connecticut Compensation Commissioner, political activist, husband, father, grandfather, joke teller extraordinaire and avid golfer.
It was his dream to use his love for golf to raise monies for the statewide work of the CT Breast Health Initiative, Inc. by creating an annual tournament at the Shuttle Meadow County Club, on his favorite golf course.”
The Shuttle Meadow Golf Course, designed by renowned architect and twice British Open Champion Willie Park Jr., was recognized by Golfweek Magazine as one of America’s 2014 Best Classic Courses. Achieving national recognition among America’s elite golf course is a tribute to the unique qualities of this historic course.
Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. as well as a Silent Auction and raffle. Lunch is at 11 a.m. At noon is shotgun. A cocktail reception and dinner on the patio with awards at prizes is at 5 p.m. The tournament is a scramble format and the $1 million shoot out begins at 5 p.m. It includes hole in one, closest to the pin, longest drive for both men and women, pink boat and a hot ball contest.
Farmington Bank is the title sponsor, but other sponsorships are available beginning at $200. Golfers fee is $250 and it is $75 for reception and dinner only.
CT-BHI Statistics include, Connecticut is ranked second in the nation in breast cancer incidence rate. The number of American women and men estimated to be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2015, including 231,840 women. Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. A woman living in the United States has a 12.3 percent, or 1 in 8, lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 1970’s the lifetime risk of being diagnosed was 1 in 11. Of the 231,840 women in the U.S. estimated to be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2015, an estimated 24,630 will be younger than 45.
The five-year survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer is 25.9 percent. When breast cancer is diagnosed early and confined to the breast, the five year survival rate increases to 98.6 percent. 2,975,314 is the number of women in the U.S. estimated in 2012 to be living with breast cancer. About 40,000 people in the United States are estimated to have died from breast cancer in 2015.
The CT Breast Health Initiative, Inc. was founded in 2004 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To date, CT BHI has awarded $3.1 million to fund important breast cancer research and education projects in Connecticut. Thus far, we have funded 20 researchers at various Connecticut hospitals and organizations. Six have reported on their progress at national meetings and one research project is patent pending.
For more information the CT-BHI, the golf tournament or to become a sponsor call 860-827-7103.
