Colin's Kids to Host Charity Golf Tournament at Apawamis on June 10

Colin’s Kids, a non-profit charitable organization devoted to aiding families of infants born with congenital heart defects (CHDs) and funding CHD research, announced its 2014 Golf Tournament will be held at The Apawamis Golf Club in Rye, NY on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

The Golf Tournament, the 3rd Colin’s Kids has held, features an 18-hole shotgun start, 4-person scramble, lunch, dinner, awards ceremony, silent auction and raffle.  “Our golf tournament is the biggest fundraising event for Colin’s Kids,” stated Kelly Molloy, co-founder of Colin’s Kids.  “The money raised is critical for medical research and helping economically strained families as they struggle to get the best care for their children who have been born with congenital heart defects.”  Single golfers, 4-somes, and non-golfers or those who are able to only attend the dinner and awards ceremony are encouraged to register today.  There are also sponsorship opportunities available; businesses can call Kelly Molloy at 203-403-3774 to discuss.

WHAT:            Colin’s Kids 2014 Golf Tournament

WHERE:            Apawamis Golf Course, 2 Club Road Rye, N.Y. 10580 

WHEN:           Tuesday, June 10, 2014

DETAILS:          11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Registration / Lunch

          12:30 PM: 18-Hole Shotgun Start, 4-Person Scramble

          5:30 PM: Dinner, Awards Ceremony, Silent Auction, Raffle

Speaking at the event will be Dr. Michael Monaco. Dr. Michael Monaco is a pediatric cardiologist in Darien, Connecticut. He is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Greenwich Hospital, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Stamford Hospital and Norwalk Hospital.  Dr. Monaco lives in Port Chester, New York with his wife and their two children.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of all congenital birth defects. It is estimated that 0.8-1% of the population is affected by some form of congenital heart disease. CHD comes in many different forms and refers to congenital malformations of the heart during development. It presents as a spectrum and can affect the chambers of the heart, the heart valves, or the major blood vessels coming to and leaving from the heart. CHD leads to abnormal flow of blood through the heart and the body manifesting as either decreased heart function, congestive heart failure (CHF) or cyanosis.

The severity of the congenital heart defect dictates the appropriate treatment. Some of the less severe conditions can be followed closely by pediatric cardiologists and may even resolve as the child grows. In contrast, the more severe forms are lifelong illnesses that require many hospitalizations, surgeries, cardiac interventions and even heart transplantation to help palliate. In recent years, advances in diagnosis and treatment have greatly improved the survival and quality of life for even the most severe patients. However, there still remains a tremendous amount of work to be done to understand and treat CHD.

To register, or for more information, go to http://www.ColinsKids.org/2014-golf-tournament.html or contact Kelly Molloy (Kelly@ColinsKids.org).

If you are unable to attend but wish to make a donation, please visit www.colinskids.org/donate-now.html or call 203-403-3774.

About Colin’s Kids

Colin’s Kids, www.ColinsKids.org, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization run entirely by volunteers, with more than 95% of its donations and proceeds from fundraisers directly funding its programs.  Its mission is to provide critical funding to advance medical research related to the diagnosis, life-improving treatment, cure and prevention of congenital heart defects (CHDs); and to provide rapid response financial assistance to economically strained families struggling to obtain the best available care for their children.

Colin’s Kids was founded in 2010 by mothers Kelly Molloy and Nancy King who met in a Columbia Presbyterian's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 2008 after giving birth to children with CHDs.  The King’s son Andrew survived after surgery, however, the Molloys' son Colin did not and became the organization's namesake.