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In May 1991, 15-month old Jordan Stuart from Scotts Valley, CA was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. For the next year, Jordan battled the disease
with chemotherapy, radiation, two major brain surgeries and 11 additional surgical procedures at Stanford Children's Hospital and UCSF Medical Center.
During a good portion of the time, Jordan and his family lived at Koret Family House, where they found refuge, support and compassion from a caring staff,
as well as camaraderie from other families enduring similar tragedies. Sadly, Jordan lost his battle on May 7, 1992.
The following year, Jordan's dad, Rob Stuart, initiated the Jordan Stuart Memorial Charity Golf Tournament to honor his son's memory as well as raise
awareness, financial support and emotional comfort for other families of children with pediatric cancer. During each tournament, Rob invited local children
with cancer and their families as his special guests.
In 1995, Rob invited four year-old Kyra Pillsbury and her family to the tournament. Radiant, dynamic, loving and articulate, Kyra had been diagnosed with
an aggressive, malignant brain tumor just after her third birthday. She and her family had spent the entire summer of 1994 living at Koret Family House, but now
seemed to be responding well to treatment. Kyra's uncle, David Pillsbury, a top executive at American Golf Corporation, flew from Southern California to play
in the tournament, and pledged support for Rob's charitable efforts from the non-profit American Golf Foundation. Thus began a lasting friendship and mutual
bond between the Stuart and Pillsbury families, which continues today. Tragically, after a year and a half of hospital stays, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery,
needle pokes, blood draws and transfusions, Kyra died at home on February 15, 1996.
In 1996, the name of the tournament was changed to the Jordan & Kyra Memorial Charity Golf Tournament in memory of both children, and a Foundation was
established to augment the event's fundraising efforts. To date, national fundraising at golf courses and clubs, combined with tournament proceeds, have generated
more than $1.5 million in funding for the Koret Family House, as well as research being conducted by Dr. Mark Israel aimed at eradicating pediatric cancer as a
life-threatening illness.
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to the Jordan & Kyra Memorial Foundation. |
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