Bobby Mitchell brings his namesake Hall of Fame Classic to fight blood cancers, to a close
[I]Millions raised over 22 years[/I]Washington Redskins legend Bobby Mitchell brought his near quarter century effort to fight blood cancers to a close last weekend as he was joined one last time by his many Hall of Fame friends and colleagues at the Annual Bobby Mitchell Autotrader.com Hall of Fame Golf Classic (BMC) at Lansdowne Resort. The two-day event marked the 22nd time for the outing (which WANADA has annually supported) to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which strives to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma as well as improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Tamara Darvish of DARCARS, who, along with Todd Heavner of Enterprise has co-chaired the event for a number of years, announced that this years BMC raised nearly $500,000, bringing the 22-year total to a number in excess of $8 million dollars. The inaugural Bobby Mitchell Classic in 1990 brought in $40,000, with18 Hall of Famers participating.
Ive had a tremendous run with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and I am proud of what the BMC has accomplished. I want to thank all of the Hall of Famers here tonight and all those who have participated over the years. I know that when you commit to a cause, your word is good, Mitchell said in his remarks to the evening banquet audience.
Though the Hall of Fame Golf Classic is expected to continue on as usual, most agree it just wont be the same without Mitchell as catalyst and host. Mitchell insisted, however, he was leaving the tournament/fundraiser in good hands. This has been built because of my belief that the best guys out there are Hall of Famers, and when they say they are going to do something, they do, Mitchell said.
Bobby Mitchell and his wife Gwen have dedicated themselves to planning and executing this amazing tournament weekend each year since 1990, said Gabrielle Urquhart, LLS executive director. Their unsurpassed dedication to our mission, along with the long-standing commitment of co-chairs Tammy Darvish, and Todd Heavner of Enterprise, has helped to change the lives of thousands of Americans living with blood cancer.
DARCARS donated a 2012 Scion tC for this years raffle contest. The winning ticket was drawn at the banquet, with prize delivery logistics now being worked out.
This years Tournament honoree was Julianna Nicholson, a 6-year-old leukemia survivor.
Other longterm organizaers, current organizers and organizers across two decades were given a chance to do a video salute to the Mitchells, the BMC and its great cause to include the entire DARCARS organization, WANADA, representing Washington area new auto dealers, AutoTrader.com, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and the Rosenthal Companies. The BMC from its beginnings has had a distinct auto industry thread when Bob Rosenthal and Dick Patterson first organized it with people who have been on board the whole time like Rory Schick and then Tammy when WANADA signed on ten years ago and later her co-chair Todd, said Gerry Murphy of WANADA. Bobby lent his name to an eminently successful fundraiser turning out a whos who of NFL and NBA greats a number of whom who also have been here 20 plus years, he said. But its the cancer patients themselves, the young ones in particular, that everyone who comes out is proud to have supported.
[U]Below is a complete list of the 46 Hall of Fame members who attended the 22nd BMC[/U]o Bobby Mitchell Washington Redskins 1983
o Lem Barney Detroit Lions 1992
o Bobby Bell Kansas City Chiefs 1983
o Elvin Bethea Houston Oilers 2003
o Jack Butler Pittsburgh Steelers 2012
o David Casper* Los Angeles Raiders 2002
o Dermonti Dawson Pittsburgh Steelers 2012
o Joe Delamielleure Buffalo Bills 2003
o Richard Dent* Chicago Bears 2011
o Chris Doleman Minnesota Vikings 2012
o Wayne Embry Milwaukee Bucks 1999
o Mike Haynes New England Patriots/LA Raiders 1997
o Chris Hanburger Washington Redskins 2011
o Ted Hendricks Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders 1990
o Ken Houston Washington Redskins 1986
o Sam Huff Washington Redskins 1982
o Rickey Jackson New Orleans Saints 2010
o Charlie Joiner San Diego Chargers 1996
o Sam Jones Boston Celtics 1983
o Sonny Jurgensen Washington Redskins 1983
o Leroy Kelly Cleveland Browns 1994
o Paul Krause Minnesota Vikings 1998
o Willie Lanier Kansas City Chiefs 1986
o Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks 1995
o Meadowlark Lemon Harlem Globetrotters 2003
o Floyd Little Denver Broncos 2010
o Larry Little Miami Dolphins 1993
o Tom Mack L. A. Rams 1999
o Gino Marchetti Baltimore Colts 1972
o Randall McDaniel Minnesota Vikings 2009
o Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts 1975
o Anthony Munoz Cincinnati Bengals 1998
o Mel Renfro Dallas Cowboys 1996
o Willie Roaf New Orleans Saints 2012
o Oscar Robertson Milwaukee Bucks 1979
o Charlie Sanders Detroit Lions 2007
o Billy Shaw Buffalo Bills 1999
o Art Shell Oakland Raiders 1989
o Jan Stenerud Kansas City Chiefs 1991
o Charley Taylor Washington Redskins 1984
o Emmitt Thomas Kansas City Chiefs 2008
o Andre Tippett New England Patriots 2008
o Paul Warfield Cleveland Browns 1983
o Roger Wehrli St. Louis Cardinals 2007
o Dave Wilcox San Francisco 49ers 2000
o Rayfield Wright Dallas Cowboys 2006
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