Local celebrities fight the good fight against ALS, one swing at a time

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – Celebrity players, led by Tom Watson and George Brett, are helping to raise funds for the ALS Association at the 41st annual celebrity golf tournament.

The tournament took place June 3 at The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate. The celebrity fundraiser originated in 1983 by Brett, the former Royals player and Baseball Hall of Famer. The “George Brett Celebrity Golf Classic” changed to the “The Joe McGuff ALS Golf Classic” in 2003 to honor the Kansas City sportswriter.

ALS Association of Kansas City Leadership Council Chair Kelly Bosak said, “We always have golfers that want to play in this and have the opportunity to get a lesson from Tom Watson, hang out with a celebrity in their foursome of golf, and just enjoy the day.”

It’s for much more than beating their own best score. Funding ALS research is a necessity for those impacted by the disease. Bosak lost seven family members to the disease herself.

ALS is an acronym for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control and is often fatal.

“I thought it was important to serve on the board of directors here in the Kansas City area. This is my 7th year on the leadership council so I’m doing what I can to support the ALS association in that capacity,” said Bosak.

Bosak added activities like awareness walks are important, as well.

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Since the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral online and on air in 2014, $115 million has been raised for research. Around $230,000 has been raised through the tournament alone.

“We’re looking to raise that much today that will help all those people locally living with ALS, make their lives a little bit easier, and fund research across the country,” she said.

There is no cure but there are advancements in medicine for the fight to end ALS, including drugs to lessen the symptoms and finding specific genes that lead to developing the disease. Bosak acknowledged these are big steps, but far from a cure.

“Those drugs will help lessen the side effects of ALS, they’re not drugs that will prevent it from spreading,” she said. “We have also found 12 new genes connected to ALS to help us in the genetic fight.”

It’s a good day to be on the golf course.

“To be a part of this tournament, it’s amazing, it’s awesome to see Tom and George here to support our fight and they continue to support it,” said Bosak.