On October 7, 1999, we were told our one year old son, Spencer Michael Beckstead, had a brain tumor. The doctors sent us to Memphis, Tennessee, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment. Part of the treatment involved having a "shunt" placed in Spencer’s head. This is a small tube and pump placed within Spencer’s head to drain fluid off his brain. Once placed, these devices are rarely removed. As a result, we were told our child would never be able to play contact sports such as basketball, baseball, football, or soccer. During our stay at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, we began to meet other children, younger and older, who were experiencing the same situation. They would no longer be able to participate in contact sports. We then recognized there was a need for something to help these children to get back what they were losing and be a part of what they considered a "normal" life.

Over the next 20 months, while Spencer was undergoing treatment, we got to see, listen to, and learn more about what these children wanted and needed. As part of their overall treatment and recovery, they needed to participate in a sport, competitively, with healthy children. They didn’t want to just watch and wish. They wanted to be active, have some kind of structure, discipline, teamwork, to fit in and, have some sort of normalcy in their lives besides the routines of doctor’s visits and harsh medical treatments. They needed an outlet. I said to my husband John, "There has to be something we can do for these children." The thought process began.

The idea was born on January 23, 2001, John had a heart attack. When he awoke he said, "We’ve overlooked the obvious. It’s golf! We can give these children what they need." And Clubs for Cancer Kids was born.

Because John had grown up playing golf himself, he believed that this would be a perfect solution. Golfing could produce many benefits for these children. It gives them the chance to play a sport, competitively, with healthy children. It would strengthen their self esteem and self worth. It also would teach them discipline and the therapeutic benefit from the exercise involved in golf. We talked to several different doctors in various medical fields and each agreed that this was a good avenue for these children.

In June 2001,Clubs For Cancer Kids officially debuted in Tunica, Mississippi, at the Riverbend Links Golf Course. We presented two children, ages 9 and 16, both leukemia patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with golfing equipment. To our surprise, this event was reported in The Commercial Appeal Newspaper in Memphis and also in the July 2001 edition of the Mid-South Golfer. We were on our way.

By this point, our son, Spencer, had finished 20 months of chemotherapy. He was in remission. At that time, we had organized one fund raising event and had received a donation of another couple of sets of equipment. By December 2001, we began organizing several golf tournaments to help raise funds and awareness about Clubs For Cancer Kids.

Also in December 2001, Spencer was granted a wish from the "Make a Wish Foundation." His choice was Disneyworld. After we returned from Orlando, at Spencer’s scheduled check up, we were informed that he had relapsed and that it was necessary to begin chemotherapy again.

The Move to Florida

While visiting Orlando, we were fortunate to meet many people who were very interested in what we were trying to do. After careful consideration, we decided that the best place for the continued growth and success of Clubs for Cancer Kids was in Central Florida. In February 2002, we moved our family, Spencer, his two brothers and one sister, to Orlando, thereby relocating Clubs for Cancer Kids as well.