For the past eleven Augusts in Angola, you would find upwards of 60 men playing golf, raising money for Cancer Services, and remembering their brother and friend, Gary Shippy.

Over the course of its lifetime, this friendly golf outing known as Golfing Friends for Gary Shippy raised $105,572 to help local families facing cancer. The Shippy family understand the challenges these families deal with all too well.

Gary Shippy was funny, athletic, and a devoted family man. He coached his sons Tyler and Eric in baseball and basketball. He loved golfing and fishing. His outgoing and charismatic nature meant he never met a stranger.

Gary (middle) with his two sons Tyler (left) and Eric (right) at Cancer Services’ Lapper (now called Ribbon Walk).

In 2009, after months of symptoms neither Gary nor his wife Maureen thought were significant, doctors discovered a grapefruit sized tumor in his brain. Within 24 hours he was on the operating table for brain surgery. “It all happened so fast,” Maureen Shippy reflected. “You’re suddenly faced with so many life-changing decisions.”

Gary and Maureen in their home with Marley, Gary’s gift to her the Christmas before he passed.

The surgery and following treatment seemed to be helping, but then a year later, doctors found another tumor in Gary’s brain. He was referred to Duke University by their oncologist to remove another tumor and receive a more advanced treatment.

Greg, Gary’s brother, and Maureen remember how Gary was determined to face his cancer head-on. His motto during treatments was “Game on!” He even created coins emblazoned with the motto and gave them to family and friends.

Greg Shippy helped organize the Golfing Friends event every year. According to Greg, the golf outing was Gary’s idea. “We were coming back from one of his appointments, and he made a comment that he wanted us to plan a golf outing.” Gary, Greg, and their brother Doug all enjoyed golfing.

Sadly, the tumor continued to progress, and Gary passed away from brain cancer in 2012. To remember him, Greg, Doug, and some friends planned their first golf outing in 2014. Maureen remembered how Cancer Services had helped them with moral support, free massages, supplies, and equipment. The staff at Cancer Services have remained lifelong friends.  She suggested the funds from the outing be donated to the organization in Gary’s memory.

Funds raised through the event come primarily from golfer donations, hole sponsorships by local businesses, and an auction of donated items.

“The auction really benefited from our competitiveness,” Greg said with a grin. “The guys knew everything was donated, and they didn’t care if the basket was only worth $50. They’d bid $200 on it just to beat the other guy.”

Greg Shippy, pictured here with Stacey Stumpf of Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, remembered his brother Gary with a friendly golf outing in Angola, raising over $105,000 in eleven years.

Greg and his fellow golfers appreciated that funds donated to Cancer Services stayed local to help local families. Maureen is proud that the Shippy family has been able to contribute to a local organization that helped her and Gary, along with so many other friends and family.

Greg acknowledges he wouldn’t have been able to make Golfing Friends happen on his own. “I want to thank all my, Gary’s, and Doug’s friends that have all contributed to the cause. I’m grateful for the help given because it lifted some of the responsibility off my shoulders. It’s really been a team effort to bring it all together.”