Atop the Leaderboard

So far, so great. The first four events of the 100 by $1,000 project have far exceeded expectations. To date, $18,000 has been raised through a combination of golf tournaments and donations. That dollar figure is well beyond the $1,000 per event that organizers had anticipated.

“It has been a wonderful start,” said Bobbi Salmon, professional golfer and scleroderma patient who spearheaded the concept of holding 100 golf-related events with the goal of raising $1,000 at each one to help benefit the Scleroderma Foundation. (A portion of the funds raised, not the total, will be targeted to the Foundation).

Though the fundraising has been spectacular, what has been equally pleasing is the awareness of the disease that has been raised via the project. “Everybody comes up to ask me how it affects me, and when I tell them they have been very receptive and responsive," Bobbi said. "I feel we’re really getting the word out.”

Foundation members have staffed several events distributing information and the Foundation’s teal-colored wristbands.

The next event is a golf clinic to be held March 10 in Vero Beach, Fla.