Fundraising on the fairway

FINDLAY — This Saturday, golfers will tee off at Hillcrest Golf Club in Findlay for a day of fun and purpose at the 4th annual Josh Minton Foundation Golf Benefit. The event supports the Josh Minton Foundation, which provides no-cost therapeutic retreats at the Minton Lodge, a 50-acre private cabin in Aberdeen, Ohio, for individuals impacted by cancer or military service. "First and foremost, more than money, more than anything, it's a day to remember Josh," Bob Minton, Josh's father, said. "Someone once said, a soldier dies twice. Once when they die, and once when you stop saying their name. That day people will be saying Josh's name." The foundation is named in honor of the late Josh Minton, a 2006 Elmwood graduate and 2010 West Point alumnus who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Minton was diagnosed with a rare and incurable neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 27 in 2017, with a prognosis of one year to live. Minton lived five years after his initial diagnosis, before passing away at the age of 32 in 2020. Minton dedicated those five years to helping others facing similar struggles, and ultimately still does so today with the Minton Lodge. Shortly after his medical retirement from the army, Minton purchased a cabin that he called the Minton Lodge. After his passing, his father Bob and his mother Sally inherited the lodge, turning the property into a therapeutic environment for healing. During his cancer journey, Josh supported other patients going through similar situations through the Ulman Cancer Foundation at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. Through the foundation, he also participated in the Keys to Keys ride, from Baltimore to Key West, and the Ruck to Remember, a 60-mile march ending at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. He also created informational documents for other cancer patients and became the first person in the United States to enter into his second clinical trial for his form of cancer. During his military career, Minton was deployed to Afghanistan from 2012-13 with Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. For his service, Minton received the Army Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and three Army Achievement Medals. "Josh was very patriotic," Bob said. "When he was in the hospital, a nurse asked him if he was in the military and if he served in Afghanistan or Iraq. Josh said yes, and she asked him if he was ever scared, he told her, 'No, I was born to do it.' I don't think it gets more patriotic than that." The Minton Lodge serves around 15-20 therapeutic guests a year, with 32 stays so far this year. The lodge is available to not only those directly impacted by cancer or military service, but their families, caregivers, spouses, parents, etc. A stay at Minton Lodge can include up to five nights and a $100 food voucher, as well as additional services. When not being used as a therapeutic stay, the cabin operates as an Airbnb, with proceeds benefiting future stays and upkeep. "We find so many military people who feel that they don't need or deserve to stay there," Bob Minton said. "Yeah, you do. Just by signing on the dotted line, you committed to risking your life for us. That's enough and we're happy to give you a chance to get away." Bob Minton also organizes several assisted turkey hunts throughout the year at the lodge, available to veterans and military service members. "We'll have a guide, provide all the food, do all the cooking and treat them for the weekend," Bob Minton said. "We're working towards potentially, doing a deer hunt with veterans as well." Saturday's golf benefit acts as the foundation's largest annual fundraiser, bringing in $23,900 last year. The outing features an 18-hole scramble, swag bags, lunch, various contests, raffles and a silent auction. While all team slots are filled, the community is encouraged to come out and support the mission. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m., with registration beginning at 7 a.m. "The community has been amazing," Bob Minton said. "When you mention cancer and the military, there's so much support for that. We will have 34 teams this year, and I bet we'll have 12 to 15 from Elmwood, golfers that were Josh's former teachers, coaches, and classmates." The foundation is also always seeking sponsors to help sustain its efforts. "We are always taking donations," Bob Minton said. "It's weird because it's awful when you lose a child. There are days that are just super frustrating, where something breaks at the lodge or something happens, and then a donation will just show up out of the blue. Somebody we don't even know or somebody who did know Josh and that's just so touching. I tell people, Josh touched so many lives when he was alive and now so many of those people have touched us." For more information, visit https://brotherson3.org.