"Giving Back in Honor of Those We've Lost"
Every October the Sherman family, my family, would host a beneficial golf outing in hopes to raise money in remembrance of the two men we lost. The money that would be raised would be donated to both the Make-A-Wish Foundation along with Brain Cancer Research. The two men we lost were my uncles that both passed away due to different medical issues. Michael Sherman was the oldest of five siblings and passed away at the age of forty-nine. He was the father of two children, a loving husband to Loraine, a grandfather to two but would have been to three as of today, and an uncle to many. The second uncle of mine was Steven Sherman who was the youngest sibling of the five and was only thirty-nine years young. He got married to his beautiful bride Sue, right before he began feeling sick and before we knew it, two years later he was living in a nursing home where he remained for the rest of his time with us here on earth. Uncle Mike suffered from Throat Cancer along with Kidney
Disease. He was known for his drinking especially back in the day and smoking as well which we all knew nothing good comes from. Uncle Steve; on the other hand, was young and healthy or so it seemed until the doctor detected a cyst on his brain. This cyst eventually spread into multiple cysts which took over his brain along with majority of his bodily functions. The loss of these two loved ones hurt our family tremendously especially since they were only eight months apart. However, my family stuck together and created this wonderful memorial benefit in their name.
Disease. He was known for his drinking especially back in the day and smoking as well which we all knew nothing good comes from. Uncle Steve; on the other hand, was young and healthy or so it seemed until the doctor detected a cyst on his brain. This cyst eventually spread into multiple cysts which took over his brain along with majority of his bodily functions. The loss of these two loved ones hurt our family tremendously especially since they were only eight months apart. However, my family stuck together and created this wonderful memorial benefit in their name.
(The wives of the men we lost: Sue & Loraine)
There are many known types of cancers and it's because of science that cures are even possible. I learned in biology about the types of cancer and ways to prevent risking the chance of getting any kind. The top two ways to avoid getting cancer would be to avoid the consumption of alcohol along with the intake of tobacco. These are the top two because you actually choose to let these into your body. I'm not saying that my uncle Mike asked for this in any way but I am saying that people can learn from not only his story but the knowledge itself. I not only hope that this story reaches out to someone but I also want it to encourage others to take their health more seriously and make changes in their life. I was only thirteen years old when I experienced these deaths. I was old enough to understand what death meant and to know the process of what happens from then on, but I don't believe there is an old enough age that makes it okay and easy to deal with. Uncle Mikes death hit my family pretty hard along with myself and yet just when we thought we were all at our lowest point of sadness, we had no idea what was in store for us eight short months later. The loss following my uncle Mike with my uncle Steve really made me feel that my family's world completely turned upside down. These losses helped prepare and educate me for the future and helped me to learn ways to cope in this type of a situation. Since 2003 and losing my beloved uncles, I have lost a decent amount of people in my life whether it be friends, family, or even friends' family members. I wouldn't say that I've necessarily accepted death because no matter how many people you have already lost, their deaths don't prepare you for the following one you will come to face. I will tell you that the only successful lesson I have learned from losing the ones I love is that it taught me to cherish everyone I have left. It shows me that I should appreciate the time I have with others because you never know what it will be gone. The Sherman Memorial Golf Outing is another way to take time away from the dwelling of them being gone and instead give us a way to remember them.
I remember when the Sherman Memorial Golf Outing was just a thought at the dinner table. The next thing I know there are rolls of raffle tickets, raffle prizes, and memorial t-shirts being loaded into about three cars full because it was the day of our very first golf outing event. Our first golf outing was in October of 2004. We managed to raise about $1,000 then but what we didn't know was how well our turnouts would be in the years to come. Our last golf outing raised about $6,500, a big increase compared to our first one. Overall, my family has donated $28,425 in Steven and Michael's names. Not only does this mean a lot to my family but it means a lot more to the families in need that we help out in the end through the foundations.
The Sherman brothers that we lost eight short years ago taught us to come even closer together as a family. By doing so we created this wonderful event that brings their names back to life by not only remembering them in our hearts and our golfers hearts but they will be remembered for years to come through those that benefit from the donations made in their loving names.
