Where: Hunter Ranch Golf Course

When: 9:30 AM Shotgun Start

Click the “Register Today” link below for the following:

• Tournament details
• Registration options
• Silent auction donations opportunities
• General donation capabilities

Contact the Tournament Coordinator, Neil Clayton, at nclayton@moffoundation.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer!

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Come join the MOFF team for the 1st Annual Rally for a Cure Event!

Pickleball and Bocce Ball Options are available.

Event Details:

When: September 14, 2024

Where: Templeton Tennis Ranch 

Event Start Time: 9:00 AM PST

Interested in volunteering for this upcoming event? Please email Neil Clayton at nclayton@moffoundation.com or call him at (805) 440-5650.

Registration Options are pictured below. SElect your preference via the event site linked above.

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Watch the video below to learn what inspired Lauren to run the 2024 TCS NYC Marathon. You never know, maybe she will inspire YOU to throw on some running shoes 🙂

Get to know Lauren better via the Q&A with her below:

Q&A

Where are you from and what is your spirit animal?

I was born and raised in South Florida and currently live in Boca Raton. My spirit animal is definitely a dog!!! I love them all so much. If I had to narrow it down I would most likely say a golden retriever.

Have you run a marathon before? Do you have a certain pace or completion time you are aiming for?

This will be my 1st Marathon! I’ve completed a few half marathons in the last 5 years so I am hoping my body is ready. I would like to complete the NYC Marathon in a little under 4 and a half hours.

You are running with Team Challenge ALS, what motivated you to support the ALS cause? How did you get connected with the Team?

I am running in honor of Martha Fernandez and family is why I chose to do this. I don’t think ALS gets enough research and awareness and I am hoping to make a difference in that even if it is small. My cousin Natalie Fernandez was able to connect me with the ALS NYC Chapter and I was welcomed onto their team with open arms!!! The experience has been amazing thus far and I am looking forward to meeting my running team.

Do you have any running idols or key people who support you that you would like to recognize?

I can track my love for running all the way back to my pre-middle school days and seeing my mom run every single day. I quickly found my love for it and we were able to run together every day after school. It always reminds me of her and I think that’s why I still love it so much!! I can’t wait for her to see me cross the finish line just like my track and field days.

Do you have any favorite running song recommendations for the MOFF community?

ANYTHING disco or EDM is my go-to. Right now, Boom by Tiesto is how I start and finish every run. Learn about key information about the NYC marathon by visiting this website.

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Silent Auction Donations

Golfer and Sponsor Registration

Interested in volunteering at the event? Email Neil at nclayton@moffoundation.com or call (805) 440-5650.

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*** Sammi completed the NYC Marathon on Nov 6, 2022. Her race time was 4:33:35. She fundraised $20,050.00 for he Team Challenge ALS team. Awesome job, Sammi! 

Team Challenge ALS

On November 6th,  Samantha (Sammi) Fernandez will run the New York City Marathon. The 26.2 mile race will take runners through all five boroughs of New York City, starting on the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge on Staten Island and passing through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, before finishing in Central Park. So iconic. So Sammi.

Sammi is a San Luis Obispo, CA native, and Martha’s niece and goddaughter. She is running with the Team Challenge ALS team hosted by the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter (ALSA NY). View her marathon page here.

The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation granted $10,000 to ALSA NY to support their efforts in ALS advocacy and patient care in honor of the NYC Marathon event.

Check out the MOFF instagram for pictures of Sammi and race updates!

Good luck to all the Team Challenge ALS runners!

Marathon’s are exhilarating, exhausting and require incredible discipline. Show some support by donating to the ALS Association NYC Chapter via the red button below. MOFF will be in NYC to support Sammi on her journey in November as will half of San Luis Obispo. Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Martha is proud of you and will be with you the whole course. Never give up! This journey is #1 for Sammi and #2 for everyone living with ALS who needs the motivation to get up and face the day.

We love you, Sammi!

The post Samantha Fernandez: 2022 NYC TCS Marathon first appeared on Martha Olson Fernandez Foundation – Bloom Where You Are Planted..

(Click image above for more tournament info)

Event Website

The post Complete: 10th Annual Golf Tournament first appeared on Martha Olson Fernandez Foundation – Bloom Where You Are Planted..

Thank yous, tournament prizes, and silent auction prizes will be sent to the event participants throughout October. 

COVID-19 Notice: We are excited to see everyone out on the course! In order to keep everyone safe, we are encouraging that all of our golfers, volunteers and visitors have negative Covid-19 tests. If you are experiencing any symptoms we respectfully request you refrain from attending.

The 9th Annual Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation Golf Tournament has ended.

Special thanks to all the golfers, sponsors, and volunteers that made this event possible. 

Golfer and Volunteer FAQs

Q: Where is the tournament?

 A: Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande, CA

Q: When is the tournament?

 A: Saturday, October 2, 2021

Q: When does check-in open?

A: 9:00 AM

FYI There will be a putting competition happening during check-in.

Q: When does the tournament start? 

          A: At 10:00 AM. Please arrive no later than 9:45 AM if possible!

          Q: Will breakfast and lunch be provided?

A: Yes! Coffee and breakfast burritos will be available at check-in and DePalo and Sons will be providing lunch. Please let us know if you would like a vegetarian option!

Q: What course games will be available? 

A: Closest to the Pin, Beat the Pro, Longest Drive, Hole-in-One, and more!

Q: How will the winners be determined? 

A: The top 2 scoring teams out of Net scoring category and top 2 teams out of the Gross scoring category will be selected at winners! There is also a hackers prize.

Q: Will there be an awards ceremony this year? 

A: No. Winners will be announced via email, on this webpage, the MOFF instagram account, and the MOFF FB account.

Q: Can I golf next to my friend’s foursome? 

A: Yes! Call or text Victoria at 805 458 9673

Click the registration form image below for more tournament details.

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This year on #GivingTuesday, MOFF is emphasizing the urgency with which we need to invest in ALS research. Every 90 minutes someone dies of ALS. This has been happening since Lou Gehrig had the illness in 1939. Something needs to change, now. Every cent counts towards this fight.

In 2019, MOFF hosted a #GivingTuesday campaign that provided information on the below ALS FAQs.

Q: Does ALS have a genetic cause?

A: Yes. 10% of all ALS cases are caused by genetic mutations that are inherited from a family member. 90% of ALS cases are sporadic in origin which means the cause is unknown. That being said, there are some gene mutations that are implicated in sporadic cases, such as the C9orf72 gene. The plot thickens.

Q: How does “sporadic” ALS happen??

A: We wish we knew! There are many scientific theories surrounding sporadic ALS. Here are a few: Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate toxicity and toxic exposure (occupational hazards, cyanobacteria etc.). Read more here.

Q: Has anyone survived ALS?

A: Yes! Dr. Richard Bedlack at Duke studies what he calls “ALS reversals.” There are 48 documented cases of ALS being reversed. MOFF has committed funding to Dr. Bedlack’s research on the microbiome of people who have “reversed” ALS for FY2021.

Q: Did the Ice Bucket Challenge help at all?

A: Yes. The ice bucket challenge raised $115M in the U.S. alone. Internationally it raised $220 M. $90 M of those funds have been distributed throughout the scientific community and have lead to identification of new pathological mechanisms and genetic causes of the disease. Here is a breakdown of the impact of those funds.

Q: What type of ALS did Martha have?

A: Martha had bulbar-onset ALS.

Q: Is ALS more common in men or women?

A: ALS is 20% more common in men than women. However, according to recent research, the incidence becomes more evenly distributed among gender with increasing age.

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Interested in participating in the MOFF Golf Tournament next year? Make sure you are signed up for MOFF’s email communications here. 

Thank you to all our attendees for abiding by COVID-19 Safety Precautions!

• Individual tee time format instead of a shotgun start.
• 120 in-person golfer limit
• Online silent auction
• Guest speakers featured on the MOFF golf tournament event website.
• CA mask guidelines and social distancing regulations were respected
• Temperatures were taken
• All golfer merchandise was handled with gloved hands
• Hand washing and hand sanitizer usage was encouraged
• Online awards ceremony
• No Tapas Reception

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Thank you to all those who helped us raise $1,825.00! Your generosity during this time of COVID-19 is what keeps the ALS patient care community going. 

In case you missed it, the MOFF team this year  walked for people living with ALS, the families of those who passed away from ALS, and we walked in memory of Katcho Achadjian.

Because ALS is fatal, our community is no stranger to loss and each year we invite more angels into our midst. This year, the MOFF team was dedicated to one of our SLO community leaders, Katcho Achadjian. He did not die from ALS, but his support of the ALS community was heartfelt and strong. We know he and Martha are getting into trouble wherever they may be 🙂 TO KATCHO! TO MARTHA! TO EACH OF US LIVING EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST. Stay strong.

Please view the MOFF Virtual ALS Walk Team video below. Check it out:

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Giving Tuesday was on December 3, 2019. The MOFF Giving Tuesday campaign emphasized the urgency that the ALS disease state needs funding. Below are a few examples of how your donation can impact the ALS community.

• ALS is an expensive disease and can cost up to $200,000.00 a year for a single ALS household.
• There are currently over 170 individuals living with ALS on the Central Coast of CA.
• It can cost up to $2 billion to develop a drug. This number gets inflated when it comes to ALS treatments because it is going to take gene therapy or a combination of several drugs to address the complexity of the disease.

The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation has funded ALS drug development efforts since 2014. Your support during Giving Tuesday is what allows us to provide financial support to families living in our area.

Thank You!

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