SHOWCASE GOLF: The Sho goes on again

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

Over a decade later, the Community Cancer Fund has expanded to three separate events to fight a disease that most are all too familiar with.

Cancer.

With the addition of the Davidson Family Hospitality Center at Kootenai Health, as well as the raising of $28 million for cancer patients in this area, it’s a fight that those involved are all in for each year.

“It’s definitely because of our corporate sponsors that donate with their dollars and the people, celebrities and others that come here that donate with their dollars that this can happen,” Community Cancer Fund Creative Marketing Director Myk Crawford said. “It wouldn’t be possible without them. Those individuals, organizations and companies really put a lot into this.”

The Fund’s big event of the year — The Showcase — begins today at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course with a Celeb-Am, featuring former NFL, NBA, NHL and other stars, playing alongside corporate sponsors.

This year, celebs will play two 18-hole rounds with corporate sponsors starting today at 9 a.m., with the final round on Saturday also at 9.

No general admission tickets are being sold for Saturday’s round.

“It’s a little different, but we’re kind of going back to where we started and how we can achieve the greatest impact,” Crawford said. “And having the celebrity athletes play with the corporate sponsors is how we achieve that.”

Among the returning celebs this year are Marcus Allen (Pro Football Hall of Famer), Mark Rypien (Super Bowl XXVI MVP, former Washington State quarterback), Brenden Morrow (NHL legend) and Ray Whitney (NHL legend.”

Morrow (2017, 2016), Grant Fuhr (2015) and Neil Lomax (2015) are also in the field as former champions.

Former Green Bay, Minnesota and Seattle place kicker Ryan Longwell is the only competitor to compete in each event.

“Celebrities that we’ve hand-picked to come to the event, they know why they’re here,” Crawford said. “And we’ve got some great connections with some of the players that have come and supported us. And they’re known for being very engaging with everyone. We’ve had 10 years of making an impact with the achievements we’ve had in North Idaho. We’ve built the hospitality center and Ronald McDonald House, and those are being well utilized for families and adult patients that are dealing with cancer. And none of it is possible without them.”

The Community Cancer Fund also branched out to host The Boulevard Race in Spokane last year, as well as the Community Cancer Fundraiser men’s college basketball game with Gonzaga and Pepperdine at the Spokane Arena last January.

“This is definitely our premier fundraiser event,” said Crawford of The Showcase, which also features a 19th hole party concert and Summer Bash event following the conclusion of the tournament. “As we’ve continued to grow, we’ve done different fundraisers and tried to engage different partners and community members. Our partnership with Gonzaga and coach (Mark) Few, there were a lot of different things going on behind the scenes. You don’t just show up at Gonzaga and convince them to move a home game to the Spokane Arena. One of the staples of what we do is collaboration, and that speaks to that.”

All three events are sponsored by the Kalispel Tribe and Northern Quest Casino. 

“There’s all kind of organizations that are involved in this that we support and they come out and support us in these events,” Crawford said. “And we can’t thank them enough.”