On May 19, the Ballantyne Country Club will host the second annual Golf Fore Life Tournament fundraiser to honor his memory. Proceeds will go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fund research into the rare T-cell lymphoma that cut his life short at age 47.
"When we started the fundraiser last year, we thought it would be small, and were amazed by people's generosity," said Chris Steele, Doug's widow. "We had 130 golfers, 200 people at the benefit dinner and raised more than $40,000."
Steele said she was thrilled to direct some of that money toward a research study at her husband's alma mater -- Ohio State -- last year.
This year's tournament will have a noon start and will be a four-person, modified Texas scramble open to men and women. (All players tee off at the same position and then proceed from the position of the best individual shot.) The $150 registration fee includes green fees, lunch and the dinner reception after the tournament.
Audi of Charlotte is sponsoring a hole-in-one challenge on the eighth tee hole, with an Audi A4 as the prize.
The silent auction will feature items including vacation packages. Tickets to the dinner and auction only are $60.
Among the players on this year's roster are the Steeles' children, twins Eric and Michael, 22, and Lauren, 16, a sophomore at Ardrey Kell High. Several of his childhood and college friends from Ohio will also participate again, along with former co-workers from Ernst & Young where he was a partner.
Doug and Chris Steele moved to Charlotte in 1999, through job transfers.
"He was never sick, so when he found a bump on his jaw in June 2004 he just thought it was a tooth problem," Chris says.
But the next month he was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma. He had chemotherapy and radiation, but the cancer still spread throughout his body.
After Steele passed away in March 2005, Chris began volunteering with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"So much of the research is for the B-cell type of lymphoma, which is more common, but the T-cell is usually more aggressive," Chris said.
She described Doug as a family man who loved teaching the kids to play golf and traveling to see Ohio State games. But he was also a hard worker and was dedicated to his work. She thinks he would've been "blown away" to see the turnout at the first tournament.
"It was like a magical thing to go to the tournament last year and see all of the people who showed up to support us," she said. "We're just so thankful to everyone and excited to do it all over again."
VOICES
Want to help?
Golfers and sponsors can still sign up to participate in the second annual Doug Steele Golf Fore Life Tournament fundraiser May 19 at the Ballantyne Country Club. Proceeds will go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Also, tickets for the benefit dinner and silent auction are available for $60. Details: www.steelememorialgolf4life.com or call Karen Starbuck, 704-543-6573. Vanessa Willis
