In 1985, the predecessor of the Cancer Challenge, the Phillips Classic, proved that a large fundraising event could be successful in Northwest Arkansas. Many partnerships for helping people in need were formed through the event. Utilizing the attention that golf celebrities could bring, the event lasted eight years and raised funds for health services and programs.



After the Phillips Classic was discontinued, a Bella Vista steering team decided to take advantage of what had been learned and accomplished by the annual event. They simulated the format of the previous event and, making use of the existing community-wide relationships formed the Bella Vista Cancer Challenge. One major difference was made—the activities became event-driven rather than celebrity-driven. The steering team, chaired by Ray Kelly, planned the events in three months. That first “Cancer Challenge” consisted of 40 corporate teams that supported the event in increments of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000. The golf tournament accommodated 72 four-person teams and the tennis tournament held 84 adults. All events had enough space to offer individual sponsorships. And 200 volunteers made sure the event was successful. The Bella Vista Cancer Challenge raised $100,000, which was awarded to Bates Medical Center.



The next year, 1995, was an important year in the event’s development. Corporate levels of sponsorship were expanded to include $10,000, $15,000, and $25,000. Children became involved through a kids camp. A governing board was formed. Bill Fields, Ray Kelly (chair), Harriett Phillips, Neff Basore, Dorothy Hanby, Don Walker, Dick Trammel, Gary Newman, and Charles Rateliff served on that founding board. An advisory council and an operations team were also formed and the first part-time executive director, Nancy Klimczak, was hired. That year, the event awarded $320,000 to four recipients.



The event became the Cancer Challenge in 1996. Bill DeWitt, the previous year’s operations team chair, became the chairman of the governing board. Bill’s vision proved to be instrumental in the Cancer Challenge’s accomplishments. In the next few years, the Cancer Challenge continued to steadily grow in participant numbers, corporate sponsors, the amount raised, and the number of recipients. After 1997’s event, in which the motto was “Cancer: It’s not a Defeat, It’s a Challenge,” the community was able to celebrate the fact that, in four years, over $1 million dollars had been awarded to agencies providing cancer treatment.



The Cancer Challenge’s current director, Tina Waggener, came on board in time for the 1998 event. Tina brought a harnessed energy to the event. That year, the Cancer Challenge mission statement was formally crafted. Every avenue of decreasing expenses and increasing revenue was considered and acted upon. By 1999, corporate golf sponsorships were sold out and a waiting list was started. The amount of money raised and awarded nearly doubled that year. By 2000, over $2.5 million had been awarded.



In 2001, the Cancer Challenge added a brand new event: a one-day trap shoot. Twenty-seven teams of three participated. A 10K run was added to entice the long-distance runners in the area. The golf tournament had 544 participants, and the adult tennis tournament had 130 players. There were 120 corporate sponsors (nine at the $25,000 level), 375 volunteers, 650 individual sponsors, and more than $200,000 in donated products and services. Ten recipients received funding.



In 2002, Jeff Brazzeal, the previous year’s operations team chair, became the chairman of the governing board and Doug Overstreet stepped up to lead the operations team. The fundraising goal of $650,000 was exceeded. The trap shoot was expanded to 39 teams while maximizing the capacity of the golf, tennis, and running events. To date, the Cancer Challenge had awarded over $3.9 million dollars while keeping expenses less than 10 percent of revenue generated.



At the 2003 event, the theme Mission Possible was incorporated in recognition of our 10th anniversary. Our goal of $700,000 was exceeded with the addition of a motorcycle ride and show to the traditional sporting venue. In addition, we added a very successful live auction.

The theme for the 2004 event was “X-treme Games” and promoted the strength and determination of individuals touched by cancer. The year’s motto, “Reaching Beyond All Limits” served as encouragement for all of us to go one step extra to helping eradicate this deadly disease. Celebrity appearances by internationally-known model Fabio and Olympian Skeet Shooter Shawn Dulohery added to the excitement of this year’s games.

Commit. Share. Celebrate was the driving force behind reaching a three-year goal to increase a single year of giving to $1,000,000. This year’s event brought our total accumulated grant awards made to our community to over $6,700,000. In 2005 a third golf course was added allowing for an additional 40 new sponsors. The 2005 celebration commenced with an Ozark Derby Party on Saturday night where we announced grants totaling over $625,000.