7th Annual Jeff's Day

ALS Benefit Golf Tournament
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Jeff at “The Open,” St. Andrews

Hello Golfers and Friends of Jeff,

  It's never too soon to start thinking about golf and the 7th Annual Jeff Hadley Day ALS Benefit Golf Tournament.

Dave Soucy, General Manager of Green Mountain National Golf Course, Dave Pfannenstein and Jeff's wife, Alice Hadley are proud to continue this fund-raising tradition and have set the date for Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington, VT.

To date, Jeff Hadley Day has raised close to half a million dollars for ALS research.  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a disease of the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement.  ALS paralyzes then kills 1 out of every 100,000 people.  There is no cure or treatment for ALS but great strides are being made toward that goal.

Jeff was the Head Golf Professional at Killington's Green Mountain National Golf Course from the facility's opening in 1996 to Jeff's death in 2006.  The Hadley family carries a genetic strain of the disease that affects only 10 percent of ALS victims.   ALS has been decimating generations of the Hadley family for at least 240 years.  In his lifetime, Jeff lost his grandfather, father, uncle, two cousins and a niece to this hideous killer.

When Jeff was diagnosed in 2004, he joined forces with a small ALS research laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts called the ALS Therapy Development Institute (www.als.net).  Since then, and in part because of the generosity of Jeff's friends, colleagues and everyone in the Killington community, ALS TDI is now leading the way in ALS research.  In fact, ALS TDI celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a move into a larger facility and the addition of 2 to 3 additional professional scientists.   Jeff's dream of a treatment for this incurable killer is within reach!

The first Jeff Hadley Day, in 2005, was organized by Jeff's good friend Dave Pfannenstein and the annual event continues to be one of the area's biggest fund raisers and best parties. All proceeds are donated to ALS TDI through the Jeff Hadley Family Fund. Jeff participated in that first tournament, setting off the traditional "shot gun" start and helping to establish the Jeff Hadley Day traditions that live on today.

Dave and Jeff agreed from the start that Jeff Hadley Day would be played as a Pro-Am.  Each foursome of amateurs is paired with one of Jeff's colleagues from the Vermont or New England PGA who generously donate their time and talent to honor Jeff's memory.  The pros also make the Jeff Hadley Day silent auction exceptional by donating top-of-the-line golf equipment and greens fees to some of New England's premier and private courses.

The Jeff's Night Bonfire, BBQ & Beer Bash the night before the tournament features Joey Leone live on guitar and offers everyone, golfers and nongolfers alike, the opportunity to party for a good cause.

We hope you will mark May 25, 2011 on your calendar now and plan to join us. It's never too early to register or donate on line at:  www.alstdigolf.org   You can also call or email Alice Hadley:  802 786-9095, ahadley057@comcast.net or Dave Pfannenstein:  802 353-5640, dpfannen@tampabay.rr.com

Thank you for caring. We look forward to seeing you in May.