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Scott Hamilton to headline 18 Fore Life Banquet June 3
For 22 years, the Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Foundation has distributed more than $3 million dollars to families of cancer patients.
Year-by-year, the highly-anticipated banquet and subsequent golf tournament — compounded by other events such as a fish fry and crappie tournament — have helped many individuals and their families in their times of need.
On June 3, the Ben Kruse18 FORE Life foundation’s annual banquet will take place, and this year’s speaker is Scott Hamilton — Olympic gold medalist and cancer survivor.
Hamilton has survived three brain tumors as well as testicular cancer.
“He is a cancer survivor and [should] be a real good one,” organizer and Ben’s brother, Scott Kruse, said.
Ben Kruse helped spearhead the charity before he passed away from injuries sustained in a four-wheel accident in 2004.
The banquet doors will open at 4:30 p.m.
“The banquet and meal will start at 6,” Kruse said. “And then on Saturday, we tee off with a group at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.”
The charity receives assistance from a Nashville-based company when booking such A-list speakers, Kruse said.
Speakers have included World Series manager Dorrel Norman Elvert Herzog — known more famously as “Whitey.”
“We have been blessed with some really great speakers,” Kruse said. “A lot of football players, Hall of Fame football players, some Cardinals baseball players. We work with a company … they do a good job of helping us track down our guest speakers.”
The love offering recipient also speaks at each annual banquet, Kruse said.
This year the other speaker, Kruse said, is Lora Galati.
“She comes from the perspective of being, basically, a caregiver,” Kruse said. “She lost her mom, dad, and sister to cancer, unfortunately. And 18 FORE Life has given all those folks “love offerings” at one time or another. She is a big supporter of our charity, and they do a big family fundraiser that raises money for 18 FORE Life.”
For the charity, Ben, who was vital to the charity’s conception, would be amazed at the evolution, Kruse said.
“He helped think up the charity and helped start it with me and some of our friends,” Kruse said. “When he passed away, we put his name on the charity. I think he would be amazed. We think about it a lot. When we started this thing, we really just wanted to have a party and get our friends and community together. Even before he passed, it [charity] had grown into something that could make a difference. We had sent out thousands of dollars to people fighting cancer. He knew it had turned into something way more than we had thought.”
To date, approximately $3,200,000 has been awarded over the past 20 years, Kruse said.
“He [Ben] would fall over. We didn’t dream that one up,” Kruse said. “And then the weekend of events here in Dexter, it is a huge reunion of friends and family. It is just a wonderful time, and he would love that.”
For more information on 18 FORE Life, how to donate, and its impact, visit 18forelife.com.