Press Release: Golfers Invited to Tee Off for Tournament to Benefit Bloomingdale Library Survivor

For Immediate Release                                   

Contacts:

Joe Glass, River Hills Country Club – (813) 653-1554, joeglass239@gmail.com

Vanna (Mom) – (813) 751-5745, vannablue9@yahoo.com

Golfers Invited to Tee Off for Tournament to Benefit Bloomingdale Library Survivor

Queena’s Golf Scramble being held to raise funds for wheelchair accessible van

(BRANDON, FL – 01/21/14)  While the Bloomingdale Library Survivor, now known to the community as Queena, works tirelessly in multiple therapy sessions to regain the life she once knew, area golfers are gathering to organize a golf tournament to help raise money for her care and a new wheelchair accessible van. 

Traveling from one therapy appointment to another requires a specially equipped van that can accommodate Queena.  The Rough Riders, a Tampa organization known for its local service projects, gave the family the existing van five years ago. It is not running well, and family and friends are scrambling to raise money for the new one, which is expected to cost about $45,000.

Queena’s Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, February 15 at the River Hills Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Parkway, Valrico 33596. Lunch and registration begin at 11:00 am, followed by a shotgun tournament start at 12:30 pm. Foursome entry fees are $400; individual fees $100; and spectator/dinner only fees are $30. Prizes will be presented to 1^st/2^nd/3^rd place teams, and fees include course games and awards dinner. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction during the dinner that follows the tournament.

After learning about Queena’s ongoing medical and therapy needs, Food and Beverage Manager Shane Turi brought the story and idea to Head Golf Professional Joe Glass.  This got the ball rolling with the rest of the team at the River Hills County Club to step forward and organize the fundraising event for Queena.

 “Queena’s story has impacted our entire community for over five years now, and the River Hills team is honored to host this day of golf and dinner for her,” explained Turi. “She has many ongoing medical needs, and is in need of purchasing a new van to get to her appointments, so every little bit helps. We hope that our local golf community can lend their support at this fun event.”

In addition to golfers, tournament sponsorships are available from $100 to $300. Prize donations are also being accepted for the raffle, silent auction and giveaways.

For information about the golf tournament or to register, contact Joe Glass at (813) 653-1554 or joeglass239@gmail.com.

The community can follow Queena’s progress on her website JoinQueena.com, which documents Queena’s journey to regaining her life through therapy, faith and love, as well as a glimpse to her daily life.  Medicaid covers only $1,500 per year her physical therapy and speech therapy, while nearly $70,000 is required annually for all of treatments that have helped Queena make such progress. These additional expenses are funded through the generosity of the community.  Donations can also be made payable to the Bloomingdale Library Assault Victim Trust at any Bank of Tampa or SunTrust Bank. 
 


About Queena, the Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor: 


In April 2008, the young woman, formerly known at the Bloomingdale Library Attack Victim, was brutally raped, beaten and left to die outside of the Bloomingdale Library in Brandon, Florida. Equipped with an incredible will to survive, she did not die that night, and has spent the last five years working hard to recover from the brutal attack. Queena was about to graduate from high school and continue her education on a full scholarship to the University of Florida, but on that night, her life changed in an instant. Queena cannot walk, talk, see or eat on her own, but she is making improvements. She communicates through widening her eyes, smiling and clenching her fists. She requires around-the-clock care and attends daily physical, occupational and experimental therapies to aid her recovery. The recovery process is slow, but very noticeable, as she slowly makes strides toward regaining her own normalcy every day.  

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