Frankfort Golfer, 8, Makes Her Shots Count With Cancer Fundraiser

FRANKFORT, IL — When she's out on the links this year, Frankfort's Bella Versetto doesn't just want to beat the competition in the tournaments she enters. She also wants to do what she can to help beat a deadly childhood disease.

The 8-year-old junior golfer is taking her passion for her sport and using it to raise awareness and money to battle childhood cancer this year. Bella is accepting pledges and donations for every birdie and par she makes in the golf tournments she competes in during her 2018 season. The money she raises will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a charitable group that funds more than 800 pediatric cancer research projects looking for a cure for the disease.

Bella's goal this season is to earn $500 for the organization, according to her fundraising page. As Bella plays in tournaments at golf courses around the country this year, people can pledge a dollar amount each time she shoots a birdie or par on a hole. For example, an individual could pledge $2 per birdie, and if Bella makes 5o birdies this season, $100 will be raised for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and cancer research.

“I wanted to do it because I like helping kids,” Bella said in the announcement about her fundraising efforts. “I love golf and thought it would be a good idea to raise money at the tournaments where I play.”

Bella's fundraiser is part of ALSF's Champion program, which was started by Matt Colella, an Ohio football player who was diagnosed with cancer when he was in middle school. He created a campaign to raise money for childhood cancer research by accepting pledges and donations for the extra points and field goals he made in a season. That fundraising idea was then adopted by ALSF and has been adapted by athletes in a variety of sports.

Although golfing weather in Frankfort might seem a long way off right now, Bella will travel to Florida, Texas and other warmer locales to compete in tournaments. So far, she's played in the Junior Honda Classic in Florida and was the runner-up in that tournament. Bella also had custom ball markers made to bring additional awareness to ALSF and her Champion campaign.

Currently, Bella's effors have raised $200 for cancer research. Anyone interested in contributing to her campaign can go to her Champion website for details. People can pledge money based on the birdies and pars she shoots this season, or they can make one-time donations. Bella also will provide updates about her tournament performance and fundraising on the site.

Go to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for more information about the national fundraising organization.

Bella Versetto (Photo via Nick Versetto)