Our daughter, Courtney Page, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric solid tumor cancer in May 1996, at the age of nine months. After three surgeries and nine cycles of chemotherapy, she went into remission March 1997. We truly felt that she had conquered the big "C". During her remission our lives slowly returned to 'normal', enjoying the activities of a family with two-year-old and nine-year-old girls. In July 1998, our worst fear became a reality - the cancer had returned. To say that we were devastated is an understatement. Courtney underwent six more cycles of chemo, surgery to remove the residual tumor, radiation treatments, and on April 1, 1999, an autologous bone marrow transplant. After her BMT we were confident that she was cured, and we began to make plans for the future.

During her chemo treatments after her relapse we began thinking, "What can we do to help doctors find a cure for neuroblastoma?" It was during this time that we decided to put on a charity golf tournament, with the proceeds benefiting pediatric cancer research. With the help and support of Jerry's employer, Bill Walker, President of The WLB Group, Inc., co-workers, family and friends, Tee Up for Tots became a reality. After over a year of planning, the first annual Tee Up for Tots golf tournament was held on August 27, 1999. Over $54,000.00 was raised, which helped purchase a Laser Scanning Cytometer for the Steele Memorial Children's Research Center. This state of the art piece of equipment is used to study cancer cells and their reactions to various drugs being used and developed to treat cancer patients.

  Unfortunately, our lives were shattered once again shortly after the tournament was held. Courtney's cancer had once again returned, and this time it was back with a vengeance. After many consultations with her oncologists and other pediatric oncology professionals, we found out that nothing further could be done. There was nothing curative for her, and on Thanksgiving Day, 1999, at age four, she passed away.

  Unfortunately a cure for this disease would not happen in our daughter's lifetime. Knowing however, that we are doing everything we can, with the help of co-workers, family, friends, and members of the Tucson community, to help find a cure for this and other pediatric cancers, and assisting families whose children will go through cancer treatments, helps us handle our loss.

  We need many people, businesses and organizations to become involved with Tee Up For Tots. Vital research will lead to better treatments and an eventual cure, and it is our hope and dream that other families will be spared the loss of a child to neuroblastoma, and other pediatric cancers.

 Thank you for your support and interest.

The Zillman Family