From staff reports
When Hope Johnson, a 2012 Hewitt-Trussville grad and Auburn University coed passed away late last year, her loss left a hole in the Trussville community.
“She was such a joy to be around and a young lady who always put others first,” said family friend Rod O’Barr, “so we wanted to make sure that the nice things she did to help others carried on. We wanted to do something to honor Hope where our community could come together to show the family how special she was.”
And thus was born the Hope’s Wish Memorial Golf Tournament, a fundraiser that organizers hope will become an annual event. This year’s tournament will be June 15 at Grayson Valley Country Club. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alabama.
“I had to spend some time at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center last year right after Hope passed away,” said O’Barr, “and one day I was on a elevator with a small child who had cancer. The wonderful spirit this child had made me think of Hope, so Make- A Wish seemed like a perfect fit.”
Money from the tournament will go toward Make-A-Wish trips for eight children in the Bham metro area.
“Everyone has been fantastic in making this happen with their time, money and involvement,” said O’Barr. “Cortney and Susan (Hope’s parents) have been tremendously helpful in getting sponsors and golfers. You name it, they have done it to pitch in. Watching them help, you can see why Hope was such a great young lady.”
The teams for Hope’s Wish are already full, but for non-golfers, there will be a band playing refreshments on the patio at Grayson Valley Country Club. Organizers invite those who would like to do so to drop by and join in the celebration after work.
For information on contributing to Hope’s Wish, contact Rod O’Barr at 919-3487 or Rod.OBarr@enbridge.com; or Wendell Gibson at 790-2900, WGibson@medworks-inc.com.