5th Annual FSMA Charity Golf Tournament Set for Oct. 14

On Friday, Oct. 14, the fifth annual Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Charity Golf Tournament will be held at the New England Country Club in Bellingham in honor of Medfield resident, William Johnson.

"Our youngest son, William, was diagnosed at the age of one with Spinal Muscular Atrophy,” said William’s mother, Heidi Johnson, of Hospital Road in Medfield. “Now nearly 12, our family continues to desperately support the search for a cure with our involvement in fundraising efforts for the non-profit organization, Families of SMA.”

 Families of SMA was started over 26 years ago by a mom like Heidi Johnson, hoping to make a difference for her son. 

“Our family has been helping in the fight for over 10 years and our annual golf event has been a big part of our success,” she said.

The fundraising event was moved to Oct. 14 due to “some unexpected timing of necessary surgery for William,” according to Heidi, who said William’s surgery was scheduled for Sept. 20.

“We [recently] learned that with [William’s] growth, comes some important maintenance with his spine,” Heidi said. “As inevitable with all SMA kids, William will endure his spinal correction surgery on Sept. 20. If all goes well with the surgery, William hopes to be able to make an appearance to show off his taller, straighter self during the evening festivities.”

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. with registration and will conclude with dinner at 5 p.m.

Schedule of events:

• 10:30 a.m. – Registration
• 11 a.m.  – Buffet lunch
• Noon  - Shot-gun start, best ball format
• 5 p.m. – Dinner

The New England Country Club requires soft spikes and proper golf attire. All proceeds from this event will be given to the New England Chapter of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the non-profit organization funding promising SMA research.

Other events to be held during the fundraiser include: a live auction, silent auction, raffles, hole-in-one prizes, course contests and “other surprises.”

Golf pricing for the event: Foursome and birdie sponsor: $900; Foursome only, includes dinner for the team, $700; Dinner and auction only, $50.

 How you can help make this event a success for William and SMA: 

• Sign up to golf – As an individual or as a foursome – great way to have some charitable fun with clients or friends.
• Sign-up for dinner/auction - Not a golfer? – you can still take part in the Friday festivities at 5 p.m. for cocktails, dinner and our live and silent auctions. 
• Sponsor the event – Businesses or individuals can make a tax deductible donation to FSMA to advertise in our auction brochure and on the course
• Donate a gem to our Live or Silent Auction – Anything goes, services, gift certificates, new items, electronics, collectables, sport event tickets, weekend getaways, baskets.