Poor Boys Golf Classic(PBGC) June 10/11/12

Over the last, let's say 12 years, I have been a part of a group of eight guys that get together every June to play in the incomparable PBGC. It's 3 rounds of golf, starts with a seeding round on Friday that then determines partners for the weekend. Saturday is a two man scramble followed by the high pressure individual stroke play on Sunday, so our own kind of Ryder cup or final Sunday round heat is created!
 It is somewhat of a typical guy's weekend; bad food, alcohol fuelled for the hardcore, male camaraderie and the usual stories that get told year after year!

When we started this all, it was designed to be a cheap weekend; best deals we could get on golf, cheap hotels, cheap food, and within Ontario. Only a couple of the guys were married, couple kids in the mix, few obstacles for our weekend away.

There has been a couple of fill ins over the years but the core remains strong; Bubba, Goalie, Gus, Tuna, Bully, Hursty, Mikey and Wendell. We have been through the good and bad, wives and ex-wives, I think 15 kids among us ranging in ages from a newborn to 17!
I love these guys, 5 I have known for 35 years or more, the other two, over 20 years.

For those that know me, I have loved golf for all of my adult life. "No, no", as I used to say to Susan  "I really really love golf!"  Susan knew this when she married me, and to this day, she is my number one fan and supporter of me playing golf. For this alone, I love her!

I look forward to this weekend every year, despite what may be going on(doesn't hurt that I'm the leader in wins, I believe!lol) It's always fun, yes we get on each other's nerves, some guys crack up, but all in all it is something that I have always cherished, time away with these 7 characters!

This year, 2011, I had to withdraw. Even as the boys encouraged me to give it a shot I knew that my hands and arms wouldn't make one round never mind three. So while still able, I attended as ambassador, rules official, snack and drink boy, lackey all those things just to be a part of the weekend.
My spot was filled, unanimously I might add, by one Antonio "Tony" Martino. Big shoes he had to fill, golf wise I'm talking, otherwise I'm Kindergarten Cops with Tony, I'm Devito to his Schwarzenegger!

Ceremonial First Drive

The Boys

The weekend was perfect. We actually upgraded our hotel all the way to a Radisson and it felt like a 5 star based on some of our past accommodations! Stanley Cup playoffs are generally on which provides the lightweights a reason to stay in while our hardcore "players" head out to the local establishments. The boys quietly looked after me, but in true fashion, and I wouldn't expect or want anything different, the abuse and banter still flew among us and it felt like any other year! For that, I thank the boys and look forward and will press hard to keep the legs moving to fulfill my role again in 2012!

June 4th-ALS Walk

In March/April, my sister, Pam, who has been supporting the ALS walk for the last number of years in Newmarket in support of her friend Gail, volunteered for the Georgetown walk. Susan and I were also able to meet the team responsible for the organization of the Georgetown/Acton ALS Walk. Since I had begun my "retired" life I was able to offer my time to assist with the walk. They really didn't need any help from the likes of me but they welcomed Susan and I into the fold with open arms! The entire team was and has been extremely supportive as each and everyone of them has been touched by ALS in one way or another.

Quick history lesson... in 2008 the Georgetown ALS walk was born and had a hugely successful day. Unfortunately, a respected and loved physician in Georgetown, Jeff Sutherland, was diagnosed with ALS, and that was reason for the beginning of the walk in Georgetown. (Our stories are quite similar, both in our 40's, young family, active and relatively healthy before being diagnosed)
What culminated that day was attendance of over 1000 people, record setting money raised, community outpouring and support for the Sutherland family and the ALS cause.

Fast forward back to May and my sister's gang came up with our team name "The Murray Machine". My niece Olivia designed our team's logo and we began to fundraise for the ALS Walk on June 4/2011.

June 4th was the day of the walk and probably one of the most miserable days of the summer! Thunder, lightning and monsoon rains. The walk was cancelled and hundreds of people poured into the Gellert centre atrium. Our Murray Machine team was well represented with over 75 family and friends in attendance supporting our family and the cause.
The Murray Machine fundraising tally was over $40000! It was overwhelming, unbelievable, awesome and I believe the highest team total in Canada!(hope I'm right!).

Jeff Sutherland, his wife Darlene, and their family and friends, continue to drive support for ALS, and the walk, and they are a daily inspiration as to how to positively battle this hideous disease. I also had a chance to meet Jeff's parents and spend a few minutes with them and their kind words, strength and support will only help as we battle on.

Personally it was an overwhelming and emotional day for me to see all those people, and without the actual walk and being outside, it was somebody new in front of me at every turn in the Gellert! Thank goodness for sunglasses!

Our thanks to each and everyone who sponsored our team, we hope we can make a difference and help find a cure!

The Beginning

Throughout the spring/summer of 2010, I was experiencing a variety of issues that weren't making sense. I seemed to be losing strength during my workouts, was having pretty consistent twitching throughout my body, during a training roadtrip in July I felt my voice projection was weak and some words jumbled, and then, most concerning, my golf game went to the shits!
Off to our family GP in August, then onto a neurosurgeon and after MRI's, EMG's, blood work, poking and prodding, we arrived at the neurosurgeon's for results.
On November 17th 2010, Susan and I received the news of my ALS diagnosis. (What is ALS? http://www.alsont.ca/ )When they talk about surreal events happening in your life this was truly one of them. We were literally in the doctor's office for 15 minutes, got the news, some instructions and then left. We got into the car, broke down and could not just believe what had happened. We had expected some sort of diagnosis/response but instead received, what we felt, was the worst possible news.
After we somewhat composed ourselves we headed home and then had to take the agonizing step of sharing the news with our family. That burden fell on Susan as every time I attempted the words I ended up gasping for air and couldn't finish a sentence. I'm sure when we said "for better for worse, in sickness and in health" we didn't know we were signing up for this! Susan was my rock getting through the beginning, and still today. Though the things she thinks of it at those life changing moments, hmmm, more on that another time!
All the conversations were difficult, but most difficult was telling my sister, Pam. She had lost her friend, Gail, in 2010 to ALS. She had already experienced the journey with Gail, and more than any of us, knew about what we were in for, long before our grasp of it all. It doesn't seem fair that one of the nicest people in the world, my sister,  should have to go through such a thing once, nonetheless twice.
Fast forward, over the next couple of months, through to Christmas, we were directed to the ALS Clinic at McMaster Hospital in Hamilton. Lots more poking and prodding to confirm the diagnosis and eliminate "mimic"/similar diseases: Parkinsons, MS, West Nile to name a few. We met the clinic team. The clinic is really what I call a "one stop shop". They have an entire team dedicated to ALS patients and their families. We are fortunate to have the clinic so close and it has provided relief and comfort to us as we continue to educate ourselves on ALS.
We then shared the news with our close friends and extended family. The support and love we have received, is not surprising based on our family and friends, but overwhelming. Not a day goes by without someone checking in on how we are doing.
In 2011, to date, we have had a few visits to the clinic, and continue to gather a better understanding of the changes ahead and the benchmarks on my progression of ALS.

Our Journey

Well I can't believe I'm actually going to start a blog! Strange how things happen and the direction that it leads you on.
Since my diagnosis in November, the outpouring of support and love from our family and friends, has quite frankly, been overwhelming. Susan and I cannot put into words what each and everyone of you mean to us and how your support has made the changes in our lives bearable and allowed us to move forward.
Being blessed with a wonderful family and great friends, we wanted to ensure that we kept you all up to date on our journey and share with you the changes and challenges that we are facing and hence the "blog"!
Now I do promise some things with this blog. I won't be on daily letting you know what I had for breakfast, that the garbage got picked up on time, that I'm heading to the McGibbon, or that Sarah finally went on the potty, no none of that!  So if that is what you are looking for go find a celebrity tweet somewhere!
Over time, Susan and I will provide updates on my health, what has been happening with our family and any milestones we reach. As my voice fades over time(long time we hope!), the blog, I hope, will provide me a voice and opportunity to speak to all of you.So thanks for coming along with us on this journey. It won't be pleasant at times, I'm sure, but we thank you each and everyday for your love and support.