Brent Hastings Memorial Golf Tournament sees record numbers
Sep 15, 2018
Brandon Heal takes a swing at the 5th annual Brent Hastings Memorial Golf Tournament to help raise money to fight opioid addiction. Photo by: Meghan Neely
From left, tournament volunteers Andy Balthazar, Pam Doherty and Bill “Beef” Rabidean pose with a golf cart. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Tournament founder and organizer Melodye Conway thanks golfers for their generous contributions. Photo by: Meghan Neely
Herren Project Executive Director Kevin Mikolazyk speaks to the hardships of recovery and transition. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The Brent Hastings Memorial Golf Tournament saw a record turnout on Saturday, Sept. 15, with 130 guests raising a grand total of $16,100.
These proceeds benefited the Brent Hastings Memorial Fund which helps to provide financial support for those recovering from opioid addiction.
Now in its fifth year at the Bay Pointe Club, the event was founded and organized by Melodye Conway to memorialize her son, Brent Hastings, who passed away in 2014 from a heroin overdose.
For Conway, the ultimate goal is to erase the stigma surrounding addiction while providing resources to those struggling with the disease.
A huge part of the Brent Hastings Memorial Fund is the Brent’s Bed scholarship which is entirely run through substance abuse recovery center Gosnold.
This scholarship provides young men with enough money to cover the cost of rent at a recovery residence after leaving a detox program.
It also provides them access to resources such as recovery coach who can help them to find more permanent housing and career opportunities.
“When you leave a detox program, you can’t just go home,” Conway said. “Recovery is a financially and emotionally draining process. You need long-term consistent strength in order to get your life back.”
Conway credited the many local businesses that donated over $5,000 worth of raffle prizes to the tournament.
Roberton’s GMC, a major tournament sponsor for the past three years, even agreed to give away a brand new vehicle to the first person to get a hole-in-one at a designated par 3.
“The community has stepped up each and every year,” Conway said. “Events like these usually seem to fizzle out, but we just keep getting bigger.”
Herren Project Executive Director Kevin Mikolazyk applauded Conway for all of her hard work following the tournament and gave thanks to all who participated.
“The funding this tournament provides has helped hundreds,” Mikolazyk said. “Everyone has been exceedingly generous and I’m sure next year will be even bigger and better.”
According to Mikolazyk, the Herren Project sees a 70 percent success rate with its patients thanks to scholarships like Brent’s Bed.
To date, the memorial fund has raised over $78,000 for awareness and recovery programs along the Southcoast.
For more information on the Brent Hastings Memorial Fund or to donate, visit the fund’s Facebook page at Brent Hastings Memorial Fund and click on the GoFundMe account link or call 508-951-2300.
