When a family learns their child has a rare and deadly form of cancer, the shock and despair is beyond overwhelming. It’s often the shared experience of others who know exactly what that despair is about that can carry a family through.

That shared experience is what the 6th annual Nexicom James Fund Golf Classic is all about.

Beautiful food, the best of friends and family, generous hearts, a round of golf on a top-rated course, and hope for the families of dying children converge every summer to offer one of the most memorable events of my year.

I was reminded of this the other day when I saw a couple of photos on Facebook taken a few summers ago that, for me, encompass all that is wonderful about the James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research and the fundraising golf tournament it has hosted for the past six years at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club.

It was Christmas 2009 when my sister Erin Howcroft and brother-in-law Clint Howcroft began to notice something was wrong.

Their son Ethan — my god son — was lethargic and began napping often. He was tired, pale, and generally feeling under the weather.

His condition continued to worsen and, sensing something was wrong, Erin brought Ethan to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) to have him checked out.

A quick blood test showed something was indeed wrong and he was airlifted to Sick Kids in Toronto on February 8, 2010.

The Howcroft family will never forget that date, as later that day doctors diagnosed Ethan with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL for short. Ethan was six years old.

The diagnosis was devastating, but the outlook was positive. The chances of Ethan beating this were strong, but the fight would not be easy. Luckily, the staff at Sick Kids were thorough, determined, and comforting at a time when this family needed it most.

In little more than a month, the Kawartha Golf and Country Club (KGCC) will again be transformed into a generator of hope for neuroblastoma families when the 6th Annual Nexicom James Fund Golf Classic kicks off June 3.

Every year since the tournament’s launch, a diverse range of golfers — along with a generous host of sponsors — have joined to collectively raise tens of thousands of dollars to support neuroblastoma families.

KGCC general manager and chair of the organizing committee Martin Piche says that while it would be hard to top the success of last year’s event, which raised more than $40,000, he has high expectations for this year.

“Last year we had beautiful weather, so many wonderful prizes and nearly every spot on the course was filled,” Piche recalls.