BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD, Insider Editor
When 16-year-old Jada Carlyle was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this spring, her cousins Candace Wright and Kelsey Wright sprang into action with plans for a fundraiser.
They knew that the medical and associated travel costs for treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital would be a worry for Carlyle’s parents, Paula Cheek and Jason Carlyle. The mother-daughter team planned a golf tournament at Seven Lakes Golf Club in her honor and named it “Tee it Up Fore Jada.”
The tournament was held on May 7 in conjunction with a cookout themed raffle and raised $15,000. The raffle winner, Robert McKenzie, won a Cornhole board set made and donated by Joe Whitlock, a 48-quart cooler donated by Goodwin’s Archery and a 22-inch Charbroil grill donated by Dave’s Place.
The tournament’s first-place team included Todd Crabtree, Josh Craven, Todd Ring and Gary Pritchard. They received a plaque and bragging rights. Pritchard got the “Longest Drive” while Randy Cox won “Closest to the Pin.”
On the evening of the tournament, musicians Jeremy Robinson and J.D. Robinson and Mike Zeldella of Avenue 133 performed at the location of one of the sponsors of the event, Lake House Bar & Grill, and donated all their tips to the cause.
Those wanting to make a contribution to the family’s medical bills can do so through her GoFundMe website. Just search for “Jada Carlyle, Beating Lymphoma #JadaStrong” at www.gofundme.com.
