18 Fore Life - Hamilton and Galati inspire at 2022 banquet

$3,233,000. That is how much money the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life charity has sent out in love offerings to area individuals fighting cancer.

“We can all get strong, we can be physically more healthy, we can be emotionally stronger just knowing that we love well and we love each other,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton. “And it is obvious by the number of people in this room and the success of this ministry.”

Lora Gilati and Hamilton inspired a large crowd of approximately 450 people Friday evening at the 2022 18 Fore Life Banquet.

Following a catered meal served by the Dexter Elks, co-founder of the event and charity Scott Kruse spoke. Kruse welcomed everyone to the event and thanked those who helped make the event possible.

Gilati is a founder of the Larry and Kathy Jones Family H.O.P.E. Campaign and she spoke from the perspective of a caregiver. The Larry and Kathy Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign has partnered with 18 Fore Life to assist area families/individuals battling cancer. Normally one speaker is a cancer survivor or is currently fighting cancer.

Gilati opened by introducing herself and her brother Kyle who was in attendance. She recognized her sister Sara, who passed away unexpectedly in 2012.

“Cancer took both of my parents way too soon,” said Gilati. “Scott asked me to speak this evening because of my unique perspective of being a daughter and caregiver of two cancer warriors as well as one who helps raise hope, funds and awareness for others battling cancer in our area.”

Gilati said her mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and prescribed chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and a stem cell transplant. Gilati said she was in college at the time and wanted to come home and help out but her parents insisted she stay in college.

She said her mother resigned her teaching position at Bloomfield to undergo treatment. Gilati said over spring break she traveled to St. Louis to be with her mother at Barnes Jewish Hospital for the stem cell transplant. Her mother returned to teaching in January of 2000.

She said in 2010 her father was diagnosed with cancer and two weeks after her father’s funeral her mother learned her breast cancer had returned.

“I felt like we didn’t even have time to grieve my dad before we were forced to put on our boxing gloves and armor again. This time I was even mad at God,” said Gilati. “I did not understand what he was doing or why. I asked myself what was the lesson we were supposed to be learning. Did we not learn it with the first battles with this terrible disease and with the loss of my sister.”

She said following her dad’s funeral she contacted Rev. Kevin Eskew, who had officiated her dad’s funeral. She asked if the family could share some of the floral arrangements with the church. Eskew met her at the church so she could drop them off. He asked how she was doing and she broke down.

“I said I can’t do this again, we had just been through another roller coaster of emotions with dad and the thought of mom’s cancer returning was unbearable. I just sobbed in the foyer of that church and Kevin hugged me tightly,” said Gilati. “Kevin shared some beautiful words that I don’t remember. But I do remember feeling God’s presence, peace and love.”

She said her father received a card and a wooded palm cross made in Bethlehem from Amy Christian, the widow of Ben Kruse. She said she remembered them from school and Ben and Amy had visited her family’s farm many times. She said her father had told Amy at Ben’s funeral that “Ben had wings on Earth , now he has them in Heaven”.

Gilati said her family started the H.O.P.E. Campaign to help others with cancer or other life threatening illnesses. She said she was prompted to consider becoming a official 501C3 non profit charity after her charity grew. Gilati said the process was lengthy and expensive. She was told she could possibly join with another charity that already holds this status. She said Amy encouraged her to talk to Scott Kruse.

Gilati and Kruse met and decided to join forces. She said the H.O.P.E. Campaign has raised over $150,000 since 2011 and this year’s fish fry raised $13,000, which was the largest ever,

Following Gilati’s address Hamilton stepped to the podium and delivered an address laced with humor as well as inspiration that went through his career, his battle with cancer and his mother’s battle with cancer.

Hamilton opened his story saying he was adopted at six weeks old by two school teachers from Ohio. He spoke of how much he loved his mother and how much he enjoyed growing up in this family.

Hamilton said he started having medical issues as a child. He said he was not growing or developing. His parents took him to multiple doctors and hospitals.

Hamilton said a doctor in Ann Arbor, Michigan believed he had six months to live. One doctor had Hamilton stop eating sugar, dairy and flour. Another in Boston said to go home, live a normal life and see what happens.

Hamilton said his parents were broken and devastated. He said they adopted another baby which he jokingly said he believed was a mulligan.

He said he was introduced to figure skating by a doctor through a new program offered through a local university. He said his first two years at nationals competing in the novice boys division he finished last. Following his second trip to nationals his mother told the family she had been diagnosed with cancer.

He said his parents could not afford to keep paying for lessons so he believed he would only skate one more year. He moved up to junior nationals and won the junior national competition. He said his mom told him a family she met with agreed to pay for his figure skating lessons. This meant he had to move to Denver. He moved up to senior nationals and finished ninth at his first senior national competition. He said this was the last time his mom saw him skate in competition as she would soon pass away.

Hamilton spoke about getting to the Olympics in 1984 and winning the gold medal. Then as part of the Stars on Ice tour he was diagnosed with cancer. He said he had scars following surgery that required 38 staples.

“We do what we do, right? This event (the banquet) is a breath of fresh air,” said Hamilton. “Just to see what can happen when you are presented with an unspeakable loss, you honor that life with everything you have and you move forward in a way where everyone is invited. Everyone can be part of our grief but everybody can be part of the solution, everybody came be invited to in a really profound and beautiful way impact lives directly and you have done that Dexter, Missouri in the coolest way possible.”