Local businesses with big hearts
On Feb. 6 we learned our 27-year-old daughter, Amanda, had a quart-sized cancerous tumor in her pelvic area. Throughout this year, she endured chemotherapy and other expensive medical treatments at MUSC, LCI in Charlotte, and lastly, Mayo clinic in Rochester.
Her Afghan war veteran husband Jimmie delayed completing his bachelor’s degree at Coastal Carolina University to care for Amanda, moving to two out-of-state locations. My wife Barbara and I traveled to Charlotte and Rochester to share care duties with Jimmie.
Thanks to the efforts of Allison and Mark Burlyn, along with several faculty staff members from Horry Georgetown Tech, Amanda’s financial burdens have been greatly lessened. Alli and Mark spent months organizing a tournament at Myrtle Beach National Golf Course earlier this month to raise money for Amanda and Jimmie.
The event exceeded all of our expectations, thanks to the heart-warming support of numerous local businesses. Chick Fil-A of Myrtle Beach raised money by allowing contestants a chance to hit a 20-foot-high inflatable cow with a golf ball from about 150 feet for a prize of free ChickFil-A sandwiches for a year. Logan’s steak house provided a free lunch to volunteers and participants at the golf event. Dunkin Donuts off 501 provided free donuts to volunteers and golfers.
Thirty local businesses such as PTR, Carolina Cool, HGTC, The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, FBI Construction, A&I Fire and Water Restoration, Compass Cove Resorts, Palmetto Chevrolet, East Coast Honda, and Sparks Toyota sponsored holes at the tournament. About 50 various restaurants, hotels, local attractions, etc. provided raffle tickets and cash donations to the event, as well.
I know when I read stories of companies and individuals who help those in need, I like to patronize those places as a show of support. I would ask that you join my family and me in thanking many of these local businesses with such big hearts.
The writer lives in Conway.
This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 7:16 AM with the headline "Local businesses with big hearts."