You only need to look at the story above to find out there are plenty of ways to pay it forward this summer in southwest Michigan.

Hundreds of golfers have already made their donations at outings such as Dowagiac’s Chieftain Golf Outing last month at Indian Lake Hills and the Pat Curran Memorial.

The Lee Memorial Foundation Golf Outing is Friday at Indian Lake, while the Niles football and wrestling outing is set for Saturday at Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger.

As you can see in the story above, the Brian Parker Memorial Golf Outing is an extremely important one as it helps raise money to battle cancer and to help those in need with funds for transportation to treatment and wigs for those who have undergone chemo treatments.

Golfers are not the only ones who get out in the summer and help raise money for great causes.

Triathletes and runners do so as well.

The Diamond Lake Triathlon, which is July 22 in Cassopolis, helps raise money to help with medical bills for Alex Stscherban, who suffered a heart attack while participating in a triathlon.

The Sister Lakes Triathlon, this Saturday, will raise money to help with the Sister Lakes Corridor Improvement Authority’s bike path system connecting towns and the lake.

Steve’s Run, the longest running area road and trail race, raises money for cancer research as well.

The event, which will be held at Southwestern Michigan College, will be run on July 29.

The Eagle Lake Triathlon in August benefits Life Treatment Centers, a non-profit organization that provides drug and alcohol treatment.

I applaud everyone who give back to their communities and the surrounding communities in southwest lower Michigan.

You do a great job of getting out there and not only giving money to these worthy causes, but volunteering to help run them.

There is no greater feeling in life than giving back. You will feel better about yourself instantly.

If you have not already done so, check out one of the local golf outings or road races.

A listing of those events appears regularly in the papers of Leader Publications.

You will not regret your decision.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.