Friends, family, and a few strangers gathered Saturday morning at Hillsboro Community Golf Course to support Thane Hurst and his family and, of course, to play golf.
Despite a few bolts of lightning and intermittent rain, five teams braved the elements and competed in a three-man scramble benefit tournament.
Carl Helm, Bud Kelsey, and Joe Lovelady, sponsored by Marion Christian Church, won. Thane showed his prowess on the golf course by contributing to the success of his team’s second-place finish in the 18-hole matchup. Other team members were Tim Hurst, Thane’s father, and Daniel Kunantaev, friend and fellow Hillsboro High School golf team member.
Thane, a 15-year-old Hillsboro High School sophomore, was diagnosed in May with a rare form of non-malignant cancer, astrocytoma.
Exploratory surgery was performed May 21 at Via Christi Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, Wichita. The surgery confirmed the diagnosis that a tumor and cyst were wrapped around his spinal cord. The slow-growing growth is just below his skull.
More surgery is required to remove the tumor. This will be done in an out-of-state hospital.
Since his initial surgery, Thane has been redeveloping muscles that were cut as a part of the surgery and increasing body strength lost during weeks of convalescing.
The golf tournament was a fundraiser to assist the family with travel and accommodations while Thane has surgery and recovers.
Donation containers have been placed in businesses in Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody. Donations also may be made at Emprise Bank.
For the teen’s 15th birthday, his parents had an extension put on a putter of his to allow him to play golf without having to bend over.
So far, more than $600 has been raised for the family.