Mike Michel and Kris Carrier have lunch tee time on Friday at The Links at MassGolf in Norton, but their cart will carry more than just a few extra golf balls.
The two friends invite additional shoes, sunscreen, water and, above all, ibuprofen.
Because Michel and Carrier will play around the clock when a fundraising drive called 24 Hours of Golf is resumed.
The coronavirus pandemic has not only claimed lives and closed shops and schools in the past 18 months, it has severely curtailed the efforts of hundreds of local charities.
Among them was the Michel Golf Fund, which has been campaigning since 2012 to raise money to teach golf to children from the Attleboro area, especially those who would otherwise be unable to play due to financial constraints.
Michel, a native of Attleboro who grew up in a single-parent home, is particularly concerned with this concern. He spent most of his summer days at the Locust Valley Country Club, the popular but now closed nine-hole course in Attleboro.
Michel, now director of a local insurance agency, excelled in golf from Bishop Feehan High School and received a scholarship to Division 1 at Rutgers University. He said he learned far more than the correct grip and swing on the golf course.
“The game of golf teaches so many valuable, lifelong lessons: etiquette, honesty, friendship, confidence, and more,” he said. “I know from experience that golf can change a young person’s life. It gave me an opportunity to avoid anger, learn important life skills and meet extraordinary people who have really changed my life. “
Since starting his fund and starting his 24-hour endurance test nine years ago, Michel has raised more than $ 150,000 towards free rounds of golf, tuition, clinics, tournament entry fees, equipment, and memberships for The Links, a par-3 course , to be funded by MassGolf, the governing body of sport in the state. It’s a place where many youngsters enjoy their first rounds of golf, and it’s also home to the First Tee of Massachusetts, part of a national organization that teaches children about the game and its values.
The too countless swings by Michel and Carrier will end at noon on Saturday, when the youngsters who have registered in advance (the deadline was last week) will have lunch and a round of golf. This year’s fundraiser will be attended by a motivational speaker, former Army Staff Sgt. Greg Reynolds, an excellent combat veteran and amputee who holds the Guinness record for the most one-armed push-ups with a 40-pound pack in a minute.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Michel Fund can contact the Attleboro Recreation Department or visit their website.
You can also donate through GoFundMe.com.
We’re excited about the return of this precious charity and we would like to give Michel and Carrier a tip: bring a giant bottle of ibuprofen.