On Sunday, August 2, 1998 at the Raceway Golf Club in Thompson, Ct., the First Annual Raceway Women's Open was held to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the "Rally with GOLF for WOMEN Magazine For A Cure" program.

In 1982 the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established to help educate women about the importance of early detection.  Since it's inception, funds raised by the Foundation have helped provide vital screening and treatment opportunities for thousands of women.  The organizations mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. 

Founded in 1996, the "Rally with GOLF for WOMEN Magazine For A Cure" program was the first such initiative to reach out to amateur women golfers.  It has identified women's golf as an important area of development in delivering the early detection and awareness message.   

In 1998 the 1st Annual Raceway Women's Open had 116 women golfers from Mass., Conn., Rhode Island and New Jersey participate and sent $2500.00 to the Komen Foundation.  In 1999 we had more than a full field of 156 women golfers from Mass., Conn., Rhode Island, New Jersey, Florida and even California.  With the entry fees, raffle table and Tee Sponsors we sent $3840.00 to Susan G. Komen.  We also wanted to make an impact locally and donated $500.00 for the patients and their families who use the Oncology Room at UMass Memorial Hospital.    It was a wonderful sight that year to look out on a room of 156 women golfers who had come together to make a contribution not just of money but also of unity.

The 3rd Annual Raceway Women's Open held on Sunday, September 24, 2000, again supported the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the  "Rally with GOLF for WOMEN Magazine For A Cure" program.  With the entry fees, raffle table, Tee Sponsors, Corporate Sponsors and the Linda Hartough Raffle, we sent $4700.00 to Susan G. Komen.  We also donated $521.50 to the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade and $500.00 to MOVE -  Memorial Oncology Volunteer Effort.  Thank you to everyone for your support in our endeavor! 

The 4th Annual Raceway Women's Open held on Sunday, September 23, 2001, again supported the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the  "Rally with GOLF for WOMEN Magazine For A Cure" program.  With the entry fees, raffle table, Tee Sponsors, Corporate Sponsors and the Linda Hartough Raffle, we sent $5200.00 to Susan G. Komen.  We also donated $472.76 to the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade, $135 to the American Red Cross and $1000.00 to the Hospice of Northeast Connecticut.  Thank you to everyone for your support in our endeavor! 

  The Fifth Annual Raceway Women's Open will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2002. 

Sincerely,

The Tournament Committee

Naomi Kunkel   Cathy Church

Sandi Kunkel  Doris Raps

Dorothy Starzec  Vanessa Hoenig  Beth Wojnar