UW physician Richard Love, MD, helped Manitowoc-area resident Pat Nelson through her breast cancer fight 25 years ago. His protégé, Dr. Matthews, helped Pat through stage 3 uterine cancer last year. And Pat’s husband, Manitowoc REALTOR^® Bob Nelson, has been involved with community work to benefit cancer research throughout every step of her fight.

For the past nine years, Nelson has organized and operated the Linda Dworak Memorial Golf Outing (LDMG). The golf outing has raised over $50,000 over the years for the International Breast Cancer Research Foundation (IBCRF) and also has donated $15,400 to local families dealing with cancer. These families were able to use the money for medical expenses or short vacations to briefly escape chemotherapy’s emotional toll.
Executive Director at the IBCRF, Maureen Kennedy Boelter, attends the LDMG event every year.

“For over a decade, the IBCRF has been a recipient of Bob’s kindness and generosity,” said Boelter. “Through the golf outing, the entire Nelson family has provided tens of thousands of dollars to further our mission of ending suffering and death from breast cancer — the way Bob and his family have grown this event is amazing.”

The LDMG outing includes various hole contests, including a “string game” for shots close to pins, or teeing off at certain tees based on birdies or bogies on previous holes. The most recent LDMG in August 2013 had a great turnout of golfers, including 21 four-person teams, and raised over $9,000.

Bob’s other volunteer commitment includes the Spaghetti Italiano fundraiser, benefiting the oncology department at the Holy Family Memorial (HFM) Medical Center in Manitowoc. Nelson, along with co-chairman Dean Halvorson, began the fundraiser as a small event when they owned a sports bar, and the fundraiser has since grown into a major fundraising event in the Manitowoc area.

Spaghetti Italiano features Nelson and Halvorson’s homemade Italian dishes, raffles and a silent auction. Nelson and Halvorson have personally paid for and cooked more than 60 gallons of sauce for the dishes served at the fundraiser. Now in its 17th year,

Spaghetti Italiano has raised over $150,000. Proceeds have helped to establish two fish aquariums at HFM to enhance the healing of the hospital’s cancer patients.

“Research shows that healing is aided by the presence of colorful fish in a tranquil environment, and we were able to establish this new feature due to Bob’s commitment to HFM and cancer patients,” said Mary C. Mauer, Vice President of Business Development/Chief Innovation Officer at HFM. 

“The aquariums live on as testament to the dedication and loyalty of volunteers like Bob,” said Mauer. “We are forever indebted to Bob, as are all of HFM’s patients and families.”

Nelson still finds the time to coach the Roncalli Catholic High School boys tennis team, now in his 35th year. He was previously awarded the prestigious “Layman of the Year” award by the Manitowoc-Two Rivers YMCA and was enshrined into the Lakeshore All Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

REALTOR^® in the Community Photo Highlights

Bob Nelson, along with the Dworak and Nelson families and IBCRF executive director, stands with a donation check at the Linda Dworak Memorial Golf Outing fundraiser. Pictured (from left): Roger Dworak, Matt Schuette, IBCRF Executive Director Maureen Kennedy Boelter, Amanda Dworak Pribek, Pat Nelson, REALTOR® in the Community Bob Nelson, Heather Nelson, and Trent and Amy Nelson. Not pictured: fellow volunteer JoAnne Wenzel. Photo courtesy of Maureen Kennedy Boelter.

Bob Nelson (right) with fellow charity co-chairman Dean   Halvorson at the Spaghetti Italiano fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Holy Family Memorial.	Aquariums to benefit the healing of HFM’s cancer patients,  established with donations from Nelson’s fundraiser. Photo  courtesy of Holy Family Memorial.

Visit www.lindadworakgolfmemorial.yolasite.com to learn about the LDMG outing and to get ready to participate in next year’s fundraiser. Also visit www.hfmhealth.org to learn more about HFM and its advancement in cancer research.