Each year, I sit and write about our upcoming 100 holes endeavor. Each time, trying to find a unique way to express how much this annual event means to me. I can talk about how spending the day with my dad, Eric Gilliland is a treasured occurrence or that many years after his diagnosis, he continues to work tirelessly with the Colon Cancer Prevention Project to spread awareness and make colonoscopies accessible for the Kentucky community.
It’s these and so much more.
Someone recently asked me to recall my favorite memory of my dad. The answer is seeing him walk in the door of my childhood home after weeks in the hospital. It’s hugging him after he beat cancer. I don’t remember much about being five years old, but that moment was impossible to forget. It will always be my favorite, because that was the moment I knew I wasn’t going to lose my dad.
100 Holes day is always incredible, but there’s a much deeper meaning behind what we do. It’s about prevention and community and doing our part to make sure other little girls never have to feel the fear of this cancer taking someone they love.
I talk about my dad as my role model, not just because of the woman he raised me to be or the connection we have through golf. It’s because every day, he puts 100% of himself into his passions and he has taught me to do the same.
On June 22nd, we will embark on our 13th annual 100 holes event joined by Audubon County Club Head Professional Ryan McGinnis and Assistant Professional Addi Croslin.
We’ve been on this journey for nearly 13 years, but the core of what we do started the day my dad was diagnosed. Each year that passes, it amazes me just how many people we have touched with our effort. From past participants, to donors and spectators, this doesn’t just matter to my dad and me. It matters to Audubon, to our friends and family and the entire Colon Cancer Prevention Project community that spans across the state of Kentucky and beyond.
Your donations over the past 12 years have moved Kentucky from one of the worst states for colon cancer fatality to a state that is setting an example of prevention for the whole country.
Our message to you hasn’t wavered since we began this journey. If you get nothing else from this note, please take this one thing: get screened for colon cancer, know your family history, educate yourself on the signs and symptoms, and tell those closest to you to get screened.
I promise we don’t just preach screening; we put our teachings to action. Children of parents who had colon cancer should be screened 10 years prior to age of their parent’s cancer. This year, my brother was screened and as I rapidly approach age 25, I’m planning my own preventative screening.
Each year, I write about what 100 Holes means to me and hope that if you’ve gotten this far, our passion for prevention means a little something to you too.
So, here’s to year 13 and the impact we are actively making in Kentucky, and beyond, by supporting the Colon Cancer Prevention Project. We love and appreciate you, our supporters, so much. We do not take your loyalty to our cause for granted. Thank you for being here on this journey with us, we couldn’t do it without you.
With much love,
Libby Gilliland
Click Here to learn more about The Colon Cancer Prevention Project
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