(7/1) Thurmont held their first Annual Gateway To The Cure Golf Classic on June 21 with a bright sunny day to kick off the event. Thurmont began their Gateway To The Cure Campaign in 2014 not only to heighten awareness for breast cancer, but primarily to raise funds to benefit the Frederick Memorial Hospital (FMH) Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund. Thurmont’s Gateway To The Cure campaign started off small by selling pink light bulbs, and several businesses offered promotions during the traditional awareness month in October for breast cancer. Those businesses, in turn, would donate proceeds from their promotions to Thurmont’s Gateway To The Cure. During that first year, Thurmont raised $4,401. The town’s campaign only continued to grow from there.

Fast forward to 2018, Thurmont had 48 contributing businesses during the October campaign and has donated a total of $61,000 to the FMH Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund. Each year Thurmont has added new events to the annual campaign, in hopes of raising a little more with each year. This year, Thurmont hosted the 2nd Annual Zumbathon, which was a success, will host the 5th Annual 5k, and has just held the 1st Annual Golf Classic.

The 1st Annual Gateway To The Cure Golf Classic was a great success with a day filled with sun, golf, lunch, awards, and of course lots of fun! Twelve-foursomes came out to Maple Run Golf Club to support a cause in which the funds not only stay in Fredrick County, but also benefited FMH. All Gateway To The Cure proceeds are donated to the FMH Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund, which was founded by Patty and Jeff Hurwitz in 1999 after Patty’s recovery from breast cancer. The Hurwitz’s began the fund at FMH with personal seed money of $25,000. Contributions to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund are helping to save lives here in Frederick County. Every dollar donated to the Fund is used for direct patient benefit; there are no administrative costs. For more information on the FMH Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund go to pinkribbon.org. The 1st Annual Gateway to The Cure Golf Classic was dedicated to the late Jill Hooper.