Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for your interest in our charity event!

We started the Annual Martin Wallem ALS Golf Tournament back in 2003 shortly after moving to Virginia from New England and as my brother Martin Wallem was diagnosed with ALS at the young age of 31. Unfortunately, after a very long and courageous battle with this terminal disease, our brother passed in 2020. However, we have continued this event in his honor and in HUGE part due to this amazing community.

We have created the Martin Wallem ALS Foundation as a 501 (c)(3) specifically to GIVE BACK to our community. The proceeds from this year's charity event will be shared across these charitable organizations that Martin was very passionate about as these organizations supported him and his family during his fight.

Here are some details about the organizations:

ALS Association Northern New England Chapter: This association's mission is “To discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest.” Martin required many medical devices and mobility tools to support his everyday living needs. This ALS chapter was unbelievably supportive and crucial in helping Martin source many items such as wheelchair devices, shower and bathing chairs, Hoyer lifts etc.

https://www.als.org/northern-new-england

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country (ASPNC): Martin was an avid outdoorsman before the onset of this disease. ASPNC offered Martin support to be able to ski and hike while disabled in a wheelchair and on life support which allowed him to continue to do the activities he loved in life!

http://adaptivesportspartners.org

Hope Loves Company: is a camp for children and young adults, who have or have had a loved one battling ALS. Martin Jr attended this camp often and it provided much needed respite for him while also cultivating new friendships.

https://hopelovescompany.org

Lastly,
HARK- Hope on the Horizon: Promotes ALS awareness and helps relieve some of the financial burdens that families with ALS encounter. A dear friend, Josh Valentine, made it his mission to hike all 48 tallest peaks over 4,000ft in New Hampshire (where Martin is from) in 24 days to raise awareness for this terrible disease. Josh has since also passed but we honor him and Martin in this short video below.

https://hark-als.org/hope-on-the-horizon.org

Short video I encourage watching where Martin's wife Cara speaks about Martin's life with ALS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxeNjcqZWaA

Every year we are over-joyed by the number of participants that come out both as "regulars" who have come year after year and the "newbies" that have come for the very first time. I always get so emotional when I think of all of the amazing people we have met along this journey and how so many "newbies" would come up to me after the event and say "Petra, I am definitely coming back every year! " This event is truly a FUN experience and perfect way to connect with friends and colleagues at Marty's Party!

Again, THANK YOU for your continued support and please forward this event on to any other golfers or even friends that may want to just come celebrate with us after golf at the banquet!

Much love,

Petra Wallem- Brazawski and family

See you on the course! 

*Tournament REGISTRATION starts at 9:30am 10/20/2023

**GOLF commences at 11:00am on 10/20/2023

CONTACT:
Petra Wallem-Brazawski
email: pbrazo3@yahoo.com