IN THE NEWS

Bruce Harper of the NY Jets and Ed Kranepool of the '69 NY Mets

An army of some 120 golfers answered the call in the fight against cancer last Friday, hitting the links at the Silo Ridge Golf Course in Amenia to raise $15,000 in Ryan McElroy's name.

The foundation was first formed seven years ago by Chip McElroy, owner of World Gym in Pawling, to help fund treatments for local children suffering from life-threatening illnesses and to honor the passing of his own son Ryan who succumbed to bone cancer in 1998 before the age of 5. Last year alone the foundation raised close to $160,000.

The weather was near perfect, if a tad windy for driving golf balls, not that anyone was complaining.

"Last year it was like 100 degrees so this is beautiful," said Chip McElroy, who could be seen driving around the course thanking participants throughout the afternoon.

With its growing success, the foundation now gets calls on a weekly basis, but McElroy said that so far they have managed to stay true to their mission to never have to turn a child away.

"Thank God we've always been able to answer any calls we've had," said McElroy, adding that critical resources in the fight have been Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian "Butch" Anderson who serves as the foundation's executive director and Under Sheriff Kirk Imperati who sits on the board of directors.

"When you have numbers one and two in the county on your team it's not so tough," he said. "With their involvement we've been able to accomplish a lot."

Among the perks for those who showed was the chance to tee off at the 11th hole with former New York Mets first baseman Ed Kranepool of the 1969 World Series Championship team and Bruce Harper, all time kick returner for the New York Jets.

"I figured it was for a great cause," said Scott Lavallee, one of the participants, who added that his own father had died of cancer. "We're having a great day ... and I got to meet Ed Kranepool."

The tournament's winning foursome was that of Chuck Omphelius. Winners for the longest drive were Jake Anderson and John Anderson.

"We're ecstatic with the amount of money that we made," said Imperati. "It allows us to help a number of families in the community and network with others."

He said much of this year's donation would likely go to help a local child diagnosed with cancer and in need of experimental treatment running as high as $20,000. The foundation is looking to cover a significant portion of the costs.

"The insurance won't cover it, but we will," he said.

For more information or to donate go to www.ryansfoundation.org.

By: Weston Berg