Pierson DeHart Memorial golf scramble set for Saturday

Submitted

The 14th annual Pierson DeHart Memorial Golf Tournament is set for Saturday at Forest Park Golf Course in Brazil to raise money for children with medical problems.

The golf outing is named for Pierson DeHart, the son of Melissa and Chris DeHart.

Pierson was born into the DeHart family nearly 17 years ago with multiple medical problems and passed away on May 7, 2009.

As a result of his condition, the community reached out and gave so much support. In turn, the DeHart family wants to extend that same support to another family in the community facing a similar situation of raising a child with special needs.

This year all money raised goes to Colson O’Neal, a 3-year-old son of Chris and Jaime O’Neal who suffered a serious brain injury when he was five months old. Due to the brain injury, he has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and cortical visual impairment. He currently does not walk, talk or eat by mouth so he receives his nutrition via g-tube.

Said Jaime O’Neal of her son, “He is the happiest and most mischievous little guy. He has a huge personality that he’s not afraid to share. He has made progress by leaps and bounds. They (the doctors) didn’t even know if he would breathe on his own without the ventilator when he first woke up from his medical coma, but he did and has done so much more than they ever thought or said he would be able to do.

“He goes to developmental preschool at Forest Park Elementary, takes part in therapies at the hospital in town and at school and sees eight different specialists through Riley Children’s Hospital for various things. He’s a busy guy but we are just so grateful we still have him here.”

The tournament kicks off with lunch at noon and a shotgun tee-off at 1 p.m.