Chico, California (October 7, 2008) – Organizers of the inaugural “Swing Fore a Cure” golf tournament are very pleased with the results, and consider it a huge success. “It was important that this be different from the rest of the charity tournaments,” states Jim Flood, founder of the Swing fore a Cure Foundation. “We wanted to attract a variety of players and do away with the traditional banquet/auction feel, which we did. Our primary goal was to raise awareness about early detection and prevention of cancer.”

Tournament chair Debbie Maderos was especially pleased with the number of women who participated at the event, held at Butte Creek Country Club. “We had 46 women enter this event, out of a total of 127. This is extremely rare for a local charity golf tournament,” stated Maderos.  The event was sold out, with an additional 30 people joining that group for the dinner that followed.

Approximately $13,000 was raised from the September 15 tournament, which will go towards local cancer prevention efforts, including efforts to heighten local awareness of the life saving benefits of early cancer detection.

“A portion of the funds raised will be utilized throughout the North Valley to spearhead an awareness effort through local broadcast, print, cable and Internet media during the first part of 2009,” according to Flood. “Everyone is touched in some way, through a friend, family or themselves, with this disease.”

“Rather than concentrate our efforts on a single type of cancer,” states Flood, “Debbie and I felt that a broader local appeal might achieve better results, encouraging testing and screening, along with consultation with medical professionals.  By establishing the golf tournament and the Swing fore a Cure Endowment Fund with North Valley Community Foundation, we have a vehicle that can provide testing, screening, and support for those in need, today and in the future.”

Tournament Partners included Danny Salas of Access Real Estate Lending, Bob King of Advertising Associates,  Steve Gibson of Beyond Fitness, Debbie Maderos and Coldwell Banker DuFour Realty, Tom Ferguson and Bob Brewer of Ferguson and Brewer Investment, Paradise Community Foundation, and Mark Spelts of Spelts Wealth Management.

“Detecting cancer early can significantly improve patient outcomes, quality of life and survival rates,” states Maderos. It is estimated that survival rates can be 95% with early detection of the most common forms of cancer. For women over 40, a breast exam every 1-2 years is recommended for those with normal risk factors. Greater risk factors, such as family history, can warrant more frequent exams. For men over 50, a yearly doctor’s exam for prostate cancer is recommended.

“We are already planning next year’s event. We have been overwhelmed with positive comments from so many people, so we know we have a winning event,” states tournament chair Debbie Maderos.

Charitable donations can be made to the North Valley Community Foundation for the Swing Fore a Cure Foundation, 3120 Cohasset Rd. Ste. 8 Chico, CA 95973 or online at www.nvcf.org