by Rachel Hunter
The 2023 Carolyn Pistolesi Memorial Golf Tournament on Sunday, September 10 at the Gouverneur Country Club raised over $11,000 for the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund. A North Country tradition for over two decades, the benefit golf tournament has raised over $2 million in its history, and helped about 1,000 people. The event in 2023 was named in memory of Carolyn Pistolesi, a founding member of the Gouverneur Breast Cancer Fund, who passed away on September 11, 2022.
The origin story of the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund has been reported as follows: After losing a very dear friend to Breast Cancer in 2000, Carolyn Pistolesi and Marilyn LaPierre decided to show their support in the fight against Breast Cancer by participating in a Breast Cancer Walk/Run in Norwood, New York in August. Monies raised at this event went to help women who were diagnosed with Breast Cancer through the Healthy Living Partnership of St. Lawrence County and the Jefferson/Lewis Healthy Women's Partnership.
These two partnerships had money through state funds to help diagnose women, but if they were above the qualifying financial assistance level once diagnosed, there were no funds to help them in their treatment. All funds raised during the event were used to provide treatment and services to these women. On the way home, both women felt good that they had done something positive in memory of their dear friend Donna Weldon.
A few weeks went by, and these two women, both members of the Gouverneur Business Women Club, were together again doing something related to Breast Cancer. During their monthly meeting, DeDe Walter, a local businesswomen, community member, mother, wife, sister, and Breast Cancer survivor, happened to be the month's guest speaker. DeDe was on the Board of Directors for the not-for-profit that supported the walk attended by Carolyn and Marilyn back in August. She talked about the upcoming major fundraiser in October and her involvement in the cause, but what really touched the group was when she spoke about her experience dealing with Breast Cancer. How she felt, how her family and friends rallied around her to support her as best they could, and her fears for her daughter as she became older. She also spoke of what she wanted to see for other Breast Cancer patients in the future. She was one of the lucky ones; she had survived and had a story to tell.
After DeDe was done speaking and the members wiped away a tear or two, then president Marilyn LaPierre said, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could do something like that too." With that statement, the Gouverneur Business Women's Breast Cancer Walk was started. The members talked and bounced ideas around, and Marilyn asked for volunteers. Six women said they would start the committee. Marilyn LaPierre, Carolyn Pistolesi, Judy Bush, Mona Allen, Becky Fiacco, and Terry Hitsman-Moses. The committee formed, ideas were had, and now it was time to put it all together and achieve the results they desired, to help women in the Gouverneur area who couldn't afford all the extra expenses brought on when fighting Breast Cancer.
Living in a small community with a population base of about 4,500 residents, no one knew what to expect from the first walk. The committee members all voiced what they thought they'd raise, with the most aggressive goal being $10,000.00. They all decided that whoever had the closest goal to the actual amount raised would be taken out for the dinner of their choice. No committee member was prepared when they raised over $19,500.00 in the first year. The idea of making the walk an annual event was discussed, and decided that the committee needed to create its own organization. With the advice of a local attorney, the application to become a 501(c)3 was completed, bylaws written, and official board members named. Effective March 21, 2003, the official not-for-profit exemption was official. In 2014, the "Gouverneur Business Women's Breast Cancer Walk Fund" became "Gouverneur Breast Cancer Fund." A new website was launched to observe the change. In 2020, the walk was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Fund decided to attempt a "virtual" walk to be held during the months of September and October 2020. The 2021 Walk was cautiously scheduled for October 2, 2021. In 2022 the very successful Gouverneur Breast Cancer Walk was held on October 1, 2022. Also, in 2022, the organization officially became the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund, as the name better aligns with the Fund’s mission.
The Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund’s mission is to alleviate at least some of the financial burden patients face during their treatment and allow them to focus on recovery and healing. Patients receive financial assistance with medical expenses, household expenses, rent, mortgages and car payments as a few examples. All support goes directly to assist newly diagnosed patients with their recovery. The Fund assists individuals who live in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, and Franklin counties, New York, by providing financial assistance with household, medical, travel, and living expenses during a patient's treatment of both breast and ovarian cancers.
The 2023 Carolyn Pistolesi Memorial Golf Tournament drew its own sea of pink and teal to the Gouverneur Country Club with North Country residents making donations to support the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund, while remembering the life and legacy of Carolyn Pistolesi. Although Carolyn’s journey with this disease was short, her legacy continues through the organization that she was so dedicated to, and her vision continues to touch the lives of men and women in their fight.
The teams were greeted by the Gouverneur Breast and Fund Committee, including volunteers Judy Bush, Connie Stowell, and Terry Pistolesi at the registration table.
Organizer Connie Stowell of Gouverneur welcomed all those in attendance at the 1 p.m. start. “The most important thing is to have fun today. We are going to make Carolyn proud,” she said. The Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund and all those in attended extended gratitude to Connie Stowell for her fundraising efforts every year.
The 2023 Carolyn Pistolesi Memorial Golf Tournament also included raffles, food, and fun for all.
Terri Moore of Gouverneur was proclaimed the winner of the $500 Princess House Shopping Spree, which was donated by Connie Stowell.
Many of those in attendance showed much interest in the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund’s raffle for a 22-inch Leslie’s rose gold necklace with a Rose Gold Ribbon with a pink Sapphire and Teal Diamond with accent diamonds (retail value over $2,300), which was hand designed and set by Harland Brown of Brown's Jewelry in Gouverneur. Raffle tickets for the necklace and the many items donated by local businesses and community members in the button raffle are now available from any Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund Committee Member and will also be available at the Walk. The drawing will be held on October 7.
The 2023 Carolyn Pistolesi Memorial Golf Tournament received support from the Gouverneur community through event and hole sponsorships, donations for the raffle table and more. Much gratitude was extended to the following sponsors: Kinney Drugs Foundation, Casablanca, Gouverneur Hospital, Joel and Bridgette LaPierre and girls, Pistolesi Girls, KT Contracting, Pistolesi Rentals, Northland Veterinary Clinic, Patti Visconti and Laura Carbone, Lauren French, Fun Unlimited, Barb and Phil Tulley, Anita and Tom Sleeman, Gouverneur Savings and Loan, Route 11 Diner, Community Bank, Luanne and Tom Hilts, Chris and Al Betrus, Bill Miller Painting, as well as those who donated raffle items and volunteered.
The 2023 Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund Walk will be held on Saturday, October 7. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. in the Village Park, or register online at www.gouverneurbreastovariancancerfund.com. The first 300 registrations received will receive a free gift bag, and all who donate with a minimum of $40.00 registration fee, receive a free t-shirt. The public is reminded that all donations are used to support patients going through breast, ovarian cancer, or a cancer that has metastasized from said cancers, living in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis or Franklin Counties of New York. For more information, visit www.gouverneurbreastovariancancerfund.com.