Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Howard Jones Golf Benefit set for Wednesday, May 16, at 12 p.m. at Fields Ferry Golf Course here in Calhoun. The tournament is helping raise funds for Gordon Hospital’s new radiation therapy center being built on the hospital’s campus.

“Right now, patients needing radiation therapy are having to go out of town for this service,” says Helen Jones, who founded the tournament in honor of her late husband, Howard, and who also volunteers her time as chair of the Gordon Hospital Foundation. “By adding this service, they can have the treatment they need right here at Gordon Hospital minutes from their own home.”

The new radiation therapy center will house a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, which is able to bombard extremely precise tumor areas with radiation while sparing healthy tissue from exposure.

“This cause is near and dear to my heart,” says Jones. “No family should have to worry about making long drives for treatment, especially when your loved one is ill. This is our ninth year hosting this golf event and we are excited about having another great tournament. It’s a great cause and the community has been wonderful to support us in the past either by playing, sponsoring and even volunteering.”

The cost of entry in the tournament is $100 per player. If you would like to enter a team or you can’t play, but would like to make a donation or be a sponsor, please call 706-629-7493.