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Manas members take 1st place in fundraising golf tourney

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Members of the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, participated in the 3rd Annual Maple Leaf Golf Course "Friends Support You" tournament May 29, 2010.

For the second year in a row, the "9-1-1" Team of five civilian emergency responders from the Transit Center fire department and security forces squadron won first place in the event, which benefitted Ed Miles, the owner of the golf course, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer this year.

The annual tournament tradition began three years ago when Ed's son, Travis, died of lymphoma, according to Rodney Stuparyk, who helped organize the event. Every year since, there has been a tournament to raise money for cancer prevention and treatment.

"In April, while on vacation, they found a tumor in Ed's bladder," said Mr. Stuparyk.

Although it was successfully removed, he is now undergoing treatment which is going very well. "He wishes he could be here, and he is very happy and humbled by this event."
About 25 people from the Transit Center contributed to the 19 teams that were represented - about 85 golfers in all, he said.

"The day went fair, we ended up being four under for nine holes," said Dave Bartlett, the Transit Center at Manas project manager for URS Merger, which holds the civil engineer squadron's fire and emergency services contract.

His team included Joe Villalobos, Steve Talley, Kile Lundy, and Don Smith, who together won first place for the second year in a row. "It's a great opportunity to get off the (installation), get to know local folks, and have a good time."

The Transit Center at Manas, including both Airmen and civilians, is notorious for providing humanitarian assistance in the country of Kyrgyzstan, both by participating in fundraising events like this tournament and through the Manas Area Benefit Outreach Society.

Altogether, the golf tournament raised almost $4,000 to help offset the cost of Mr. Miles' treatment, according to Mr. Stuparyk.