Ninety-four golfers raised more than $50,000 at the North Hempstead Country Club on Aug. 5, with all proceeds going towards finding a solution for colorectal cancer thanks to the Ken Kiess Memorial Golf Tournament.
Ken Kiess had a relatively normal life, building his career and enjoying time with his wife. But on Dec. 27, 2014, Kiess walked into the emergency room with a pain in his side and learned he had stage IV (metastatic) colon cancer.
He was just 50 years old.
Kiess battled colorectal cancer with bravery and humor, but within two years the nation’s second deadliest cancer had taken Kiess’ life, too. Following his death, determined to help the Colorectal Cancer Alliance end this deadly yet preventable disease, the Kiess family founded the Ken Kiess Memorial Golf Tournament in 2017. This year’s event was the most successful yet. The money raised will support the Alliance’s life-saving efforts to screen, care, and cure colorectal cancer.
At the end of the event, Ken Kiess’ brother, Kurt Kiess, reflected on pictures that had been brought to the country club’s dining room. In one, Ken holds a big beer at an Oktoberfest celebration. The image gives Kurt pause.
“If he was around, he would have been right here, having a beer and sauerbraten – his favorite meal,” said Kurt. “Family and honoring Ken, that’s what it’s all about. We’re grateful for every single person who supports this tournament.”
More than 9,000 people will be diagnosed in New York with colorectal cancer in 2019, according to estimates, and as many as 2,890 will die. If you would like to get involved with the fight against colorectal cancer, visit www.ccalliance.org.
