The Fifth Annual Duane Ruggier MS Golf Tournament will be held May 20 at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane.
All proceeds of the tournament go to the MS Society.
The tournament honors Duane Ruggier, an attorney with Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, who has multiple sclerosis, which is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.
Ruggier
Ruggier was diagnosed with MS in 1995 while he was in law school and has spent a lot of time since raising awareness about the disease. HE started at the firm as a law clerk and is now an equity partner with the firm.
"Raising his three children has been his biggest achievement during his struggle with MS," the law firm's golf tournament brochure says. "Duane is a strong advocate for maintaining an active lifestyle despite one's disability."
Tournament Director and Firm Administrator Kevin Cushing said the event will begin with a lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tee time is at 1 p.m.
"We're hoping to make this year a lot bigger than in previous years," Cushing said in an interview with The West Virginia Record. "We're off to a good start. So far we've already had more registered this year than in year's past."
Cushing said the firm already has 62 participants registered for the tournament.
"It all started with Duane," Cushing said. "Duane has been with our law firm since he first started practicing law. He's now an owner at the firm. He's our hero. He tools around in his wheelchair every day doing everything. He does the same thing everyone else does and doesn't let his MS deter him. He's a great example of how to handle a difficult situation."
This year there are several event sponsors, which are KOMAX Business Systems; Gray, Griffith & Mays; NetSolutions; AssuredPartners; and Segra.
"Event sponsors are new to this year, which has really helped with offsetting the costs," Cushing said.
Hole sponsorship is $250, single players are $150, and foursomes are $500, according to the tournament brochure.
Cushing said anyone interested in participating could call the firm or visit the website for more information at www.pffwv.com.
