ST. GEORGE — Matt and Kara Heaton understand firsthand the impact of cancer on a family.

When Matt Heaton’s father was diagnosed with cancer for the third time, they watched his parents fight a battle they had zero control over.

“We would do anything for our parents if they were in need and this time we had to watch,”  Matt Heaton said in a news release. “Feeling helpless in a situation where someone you love is dying in front of your eyes is an awful feeling, and one of the hardest things we’ve gone through.”

For this reason, the Heatons got involved with the American Cancer Society and are serving as the Southern Utah Golf Classic’s event chairs. The cancer society’s second annualgolf classic will combine luxury, excitement and support for a life-saving mission at a world-class golf course.

The event will be held Thursday-Friday, Oct. 24-25, at the Black Desert Resort in St. George, just weeks following the PGA Tour’s 2024 Black Desert Championship.

“We want to make a difference and help those that may not have the ability to get to their treatments or afford a place to stay,” Kara Heaton said. “We may not be able to physically help or cure someone with cancer. However, we can help them get to their treatments and help pay for places to stay by raising funds.”

An evening celebration Oct. 24 is open to golfers and non-golfers alike with food and beverages, entertainment and live and silent auctions. The event will honor Dr. Derrick Haslem, an oncologist practicing in St. George with the Intermountain Cancer Center who has 20 years of diverse experience with cancer.

Then Oct. 25, golfers will tee off to play a round of golf on the Black Desert golf course. A limited number of foursomes are on sale to the public. Funds raised at the event will help alleviate the financial burden of transportation and lodging costs for patients with cancer, the news release said.

Many people need daily or weekly treatment, often for several months. Transportation and lodging challenges can create barriers to receiving the treatment they need.

“It’s an honor to host the American Cancer Society annual tournament at Black Desert. The American Cancer Society does such important work and Black Desert is delighted to play a small part,” said Patrick Manning, managing partner of Black Desert. “I have confidence that this year’s tournament, following the PGA FedExCup tournament, will be a huge success for the cause.”

Black Desert Resort, in the arid desert of southern Utah, was the last golf course World Golf Hall of Fame player Tom Weiskopf was involved in building. Weiskopf was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as construction was beginning and passed away in 2022.

The PGA Tour will host a new event at Black Desert in 2024, marking the first PGA Tour event in Utah in more than 60 years. Now in its second year at the course, the American Cancer Society’s Southern Utah Golf Classic is on track to become the premier golf event in Utah. Event sponsors include BZI Steel, Zions Bank, Intermountain Health and Canyon Media Group.

The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, the nonprofit has been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. 

The American Cancer Society is committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345.

For more information on the American Cancer Society Southern Utah Golf classic, for sponsorship opportunities, or if you would like to purchase tickets to the evening celebration or a foursome, contact Sibel Barnard at 201-566-3317 or [email protected]. Find details online at golfforthecure.org.

Video below shows highlights of the 2023 event.