The Kelly Jo Dowd Memorial Golf Tournament
About Kelly Jo Dowd:
On May 24, 2007 Hooters suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of 1995 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl, manager, and cancer fighting symbol Kelly Jo Dowd. One of the original Hooters Girls, Kelly Jo, worked her way up the Hooters ranks to manager of the Palm Harbor location. Kelly Jo was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and spent the last five years of her life battling this dreaded disease. Through the struggle, she was courageous and selfless, becoming an advocate for early detection, education and fundraising in the battle against breast cancer within the Hooters organization. Kelly Jo’s story received national attention when ESPN featured her 13-year-old daughter, Dakoda Dowd, as she fulfilled her mother’s wish of playing in an LPGA event.
All proceeds from the event will go to support the 2nd Basemen, Inc. Founder Dusty Showers has been a breast cancer advocate since 2004. His first experience with the disease was when the grandmother of his daughters was diagnosed. Dusty and his family began participating in The Susan G. Komen 3-Day events and it was his participation at these events when Dusty discovered his passion.
Coerced into wearing a pink bra for lack of a quick enough response to get out of it, Dusty saw that the ridiculousness of him in the pink bra brought so much joy and gratitude to those participating including survivors, thrivers and their caregivers.
As the years have progressed Dusty has gone from a collection of one pink bra to a collection of dozens of hand-made bras sent to him from all over the country. In 2009, breast cancer hit close to home again for Dusty when the mother of his daughters was diagnosed with the disease. As his two beautiful daughters develop into young women, Dusty continues to be passionate about helping survivors and raising awareness to increase early detection in hopes that he never has to hear one of his daughters utter the words “I have breast cancer”.
Sims Crane & Equipment will be participating in the event, and the pink Mary Helen crane will be present as well.
Update: To view photos from the event, please click here.
For more information about the 2nd Basemen Foundation, visit
