HEARTS Program

[imnotjoeking914]

Help Raise Money for Duke PBMT DivisionMy name is Joseph May and I am

My name is Joseph May and I am a PGA Member and the First Assistant Golf Professional at Hillandale Golf Course in Durham, North Carolina. Nearly two and a half years ago, an eight year old boy by the name of Henrique Hannud, and his father, Juliano, came walking into our Pro Shop to check out this sport called golf. Henrique was a patient at Duke Hospitals Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Division. You would not know it looking at him, but each and every day, Henrique was fighting for his life. After hearing their story and knowing they were thousands of miles away from home, we decided to make them a part of our family. The HEARTS Club was born.



HEARTS is an acronym standing for Hillandale Embracing A Rather Tough Situation. Henrique was the first member, but it did not take long for us to discover more families who were experiencing the same troubles that this family was. Members of our HEARTS Club can come out to Hillandale and hit golf balls on the driving range, play a round of golf or even just take a ride on a golf cart, all at no cost to them. Currently, there are twenty-two families in our HEARTS Club; some of which are still at Duke and some that have beaten their battle and made it back home. Sadly, we have had one little girl who lost her fight and are thoughts and prayers remain with her family.



One of the most recent additions to our family is Brandon Thomas. Brandon is fifteen- years old and became a part of our family on a chance encounter with our staff. Brandon was diagnosed with a brain tumor several years ago, and after many surgeries to remove the tumor, Brandon suffered two massive strokes that took his vision and left the left side of his body very weak. Before all of this Brandon was a golfer, and given the opportunity to participate in an Adaptive Golf Program was something he really wanted to do. On a rainy day last year, Brandon and his mother, Eileen Sutton, came walking into our Pro Shop. Talk about two amazing people. Eileen and Brandon have had to endure so much over the past couple years, but every day they wake up and hold their heads up high. Brandon and Eileen have become an inspiration to us all, and it is because of Brandon that we have become a permanent host to a growing Adaptive Golf Program.



This program has grown so much that a documentary was done last year that told the story of Brandon and our Adaptive Golf Program. I would love for you to take a look at this video and let me know your thoughts. It is titled "Links of Love." (

) We really feel that this would be a great story for the Golf Channel to show, and a great way to bring a diverse group of people into such a great game. Our goal is to take the HEARTS Program beyond the confines of Hillandale Golf Course. Wouldn't it be great for families across the country to be able to benefit from an Adaptive Golf Program that helps so many people overcome their disabilities and enjoy this great game?



Hillandale Golf Course received a 2009 PGA Championship Flag autographed by the Champion Y.E. Yang. To raise money for our program, we would like to auction off this flag in hopes of raising enough money, that each and every child in our program can receive their own set of golf clubs. The images attached are of Director of Golf, Karl Kimball, PGA holding the flag.



I would like to have those interested, post bids on this forum. This forum will run through the month of April and conclude on May 1^st at 5pm. The highest bid at the end of the month will receive the autographed flag. Those interested in getting more information, feel free to contact me.



Joseph May, PGA

Hillandale Golf Course

[email protected]



Thank you so much for taking the time to read this topic, and thank you for helping our program. God bless!