By Stacey Tucker
Staff Writer
CARO — A great night of fun for a great cause is just around the corner at Arrowhead Golf Course in Caro.
The second annual “Love for Lauren” Glow Ball Tournament will take place Saturday, August 10. A meal will be served starting at 7:30 p.m. and golf starts at dusk.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Lauren Hood, a three year old who was diagnosed with Hurler Syndrome or MPS-I last year.
Hurler Syndrome is one of a group of metabolic storage disorders in which the lack of an enzyme affects various organs and tissues. The body lacks an enzyme needed to metabolize a substance, such as sugar.
Lauren has undergone two bone marrow transplants at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, where the family travels to often.
“She’s doing good, she’s 100 percent transplanted,” said her father, Shane Hood. “It is still not a cure, but we’re hoping this will buy us 10-12 years.
“We’re pretty optimistic. Up until 5 years ago, they didn’t have a transplant for her.”
Hood said the family travels to the University of Minnesota hospital around four times a year and to University of Michigan Hospital three times a week.
To help with the rising cost of traveling to the hospitals, and time away from work, fundraisers have been set to aid the family. However, Shane Hood said soon, once everything settles down, he would like to have fundraisers to help find a cure for the syndrome.
“I’m not a big superstition person, but I believe all this happened for a reason,” Hood said. “Next year we’re definitely going to set up to do some stuff and educate people.
“They’re thinking a lot of these kids that are dying of SIDS may have Hurlers Syndrome.”
Hood, who was preparing for another trip to Minnesota on Tuesday, said they appreciate everything everyone has done for them in the last year.
“We appreciate everybody’s support, 900 percent,” he said. “Everybody has been so supportive of her.”
Cost is $25 per person at the Glow Ball Tournament, which includes dinner, glow ball and 9 holes of golf. Each team will consist of four members and smaller groups will be paired together to make a four person team.
Anyone interested in participating in the Glow Ball Tournament may contact Ken Rushlo at (989) 551-5941 or Darlene Hood at (989) 553-3960.
Stacey Tucker is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.