Peeps with a Cause

Miniature Golf and an Art Sale Raise Funds to Fight Cancer

This weekend I was once again reminded how uniquely caring,
generous, and fun our community is. Friday had me taking part in
the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s Second Annual Urban Miniature
Golf Challenge, and although, generally speaking, all things
golf-with the exceptions of Caddyshack and the simulator at
Copeland’s-strike fear and loathing into my soul, I had a great
time. The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, an organization that raises
money for the families of children battling cancer, put on a
wonderful event that had 200 or so people cruising in and out of
various downtown locales, putting for a great cause. The holes were
artfully designed by local landscaping and architectural firms, and
manned by Teddy Bear volunteers, who were ready and willing to
share the best ways to tackle their holes’ unique challenges. And
unique they were. Take, for example, “The British Open Bowl,” found
at the Press Room, conveniently located directly across the street
from the makeshift clubhouse at Dargan’s. The appropriately named
Bowl Hole featured some nasty traps: If your shot was not lined up
just so, your ball was doomed to land in one of the two beer-filled
toilet bowls lurking under the ramp. Ball retrieval involved a $5
donation and some help from the two lovely tartan-clad volunteers,
known only as “Ball Grabber” and “Ball Washer.” I’ll leave the
potty humor/Three’s Company-style double entendres to your
imagination, but will note that the Press Room raised an impressive
several hundred dollars for the Teddy Bear Foundation with its
clever ball-busting scheme.

I spent my Saturday cooking dinner for a friend-a single mom of
two-who’s currently battling lymphoma, before rallying to make it
to an ArtCure benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society held at
the Presidio Motel. Given my friend’s current struggle, which she
is handling with more humor, grace, and strength than one might
imagine is humanly possible, I wouldn’t have dreamed of missing the
event, and I’m glad I didn’t. ArtCure, a very Santa Barbara
endeavor conceived by photographer Leslie Andrus, raises money for
the society to help fund research and recovery while giving
up-and-coming artists valuable exposure-and, if this event was any
indication, does it in a manner that’s hip, fun, and inviting.
Motel proprietors Kenny Osehan and Chris Sewell donated their
space, as well as their time and money, for the cause, stringing
several pieces of impressive-often cutting-edge-artwork along the
walkway of the motel’s balcony and inside one guest room. All of
the art was for sale, and each artist offered a percentage of the
proceeds from the sale of his or her work to the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society. Guests packed the balcony, braving the night’s
blustery conditions and perusing the artwork while enjoying the
tunes spun by DJ Corey, sipping generous glasses of wine poured by
bartendresses Meagan and Molly, and dining on delicious snacks
provided by Pascucci. Most of the pieces successfully found new
homes, a good chunk of cash was raised for a worthy cause, and a
fantastic time was had by all.