Shula’s Golf Club hosted the 13th annual Corey for St. Jude Benefit Golf Tournament on Monday, September 14, to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Since the event’s inception, over $520,00 has been raised for the children of St. Jude. 2015 alone saw $55,000 in donations and silent auctions.
Corey Sticco, son of Shula’s Golf Club superintendent, Tim Sticco, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997 at the age of 7. His parents, Tim and Dana, searched for the top surgeons in the world to secure the best outcome for their son which led them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Corey has had two brain surgeries, numerous eye surgeries, been revived from death, been a paraplegic, had chemotherapy, radiation and many cutting edge treatments to ensure and enhance his life.
Corey is now 24 and cancer free. He is confined to a wheelchair, has use of only his right arm and is accompanied by his service dog, Nutmeg. Despite all of his challenges, Corey smiles everyday and is the first to express his love and gratitude for the people in his life.
Corey would not be here today without the treatment and care provided by St. Jude Children’s Hospital. His desire to give back to St. Jude led to the creation of the Corey for St. Jude benefit golf tournament. The family at Shula’s Golf Club has come together every year to assist him in his endeavor.
Among the sponsors for this year’s tournament were Title Sponsor Mike Napoli of the Texas Rangers, Gold Sponsors The Graham Companies and Atlas Metal Industries, and Silver Sponsors William R. Nash, Seminole Hard Rock, Golfpac Travel, Golf Turf Applications, Brown & Brown Insurance, One Two Trees, A1A Transportation, Trigon Turf Services, Greenzkeeper, Cooling Down South Florida, Southern Wine and Spirits of New York, and Copy Source Incorporated.