Seena Magowitz Golf Classic gains another fierce advocate
David Perry, Executive Editor -- Furniture Today, November 9, 2009
Now the pancreatic cancer cause has a new advocate, one who will be attending the major fundraising weekend hosted in the Phoenix area each December by bedding veterans Roger Magowitz and Ray Bojanowski.
Jai Pausch, whose husband, Randy, became a best-selling author as he fought pancreatic cancer, will be the honorary chair of the Seena Magowitz Celebrity Golf Classic. The event is set for Dec. 5 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Randy Pausch wrote "The Last Lecture" after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Magowitz was hoping that Randy Pausch could attend last year's event, but the college professor lost his life earlier in the year. Pancreatic cancer is a fast killer.
Jai Pausch is bravely taking up her husband's crusade. "I ask that you join Roger Magowitz, Ray Bojanowski and me at this year's Seena Magowitz Celebrity Golf Classic on the weekend of Dec. 5 and to add your voice to our chorus who are speaking out to create a more hopeful tomorrow," she wrote in an invitation to the home furnishings industry.
She noted that her husband "raised his voice about the dire situation facing pancreatic cancer patients." The disease has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers; 95% of patients die within five years.
As regular readers of Furniture/Today are well aware, I'm a big supporter of the Seena Magowitz Golf Classic. The event attracts an A-list of industry players on the retail, manufacturing and supply sides of the business, all coming together for a critically important fundraising weekend. Tempur-Pedic is a major supporter of the event, as are dozens of other furniture and bedding companies.
While pancreatic cancer takes a grim toll on those it afflicts, there is hope in the fight against the disease. Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, a leading pancreatic cancer researcher who speaks at the Seena Magowitz event each year, remains hopeful that the disease can be beaten. More research is needed, and that means more funds, and that means that everyone in the home furnishings industry should consider supporting this worthwhile event.
I will be in Scottsdale in December, along with hundreds of Roger's mattress friends. If you haven't yet attended this event, you should. You can e-mail Roger Magowitz at roger@seenamagowitzfoundation.com or call him at (602) 524-7636.
Contact David Perry at dperry@reedbusiness.com
