LPGA Tour player Stacy Lewis took time after an opening-round 71 at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup to encourage three young women battling scoliosis. Lewis was diagnosed with the condition herself at the age of 11 and was told that she would never play golf again. She now serves as an inspiration to others diagnosed with the condition.
This week, Lewis is playing on behalf of the Scoliosis Research Society (www.SRS.org). She hosted Dr. Greg White from the Phoenix Children’s Hospital along with three of his patients on the putting green. Two of the young women are only three weeks removed from the exact surgery that Lewis had in 2003.
“When you are diagnosed with scoliosis, you can feel isolated,” White said. “It is great to have someone like Stacy who has lived it, breathed it and overcome it to show that scoliosis does not have to limit you in any way. We are proud that she is representing our charity SRS.org.”
Lewis, who posted four top-10 finishes in 2010, embraces the opportunity to motivate others. “Now I realize that it’s a part of me and I can really use it to inspire people,” Lewis said. “That’s kind of what I’m out here for. I think scoliosis doesn’t hold you back and you can overcome it and do whatever you want to do. It’s a part of me and needs to be a part of me.”
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will donate its entire $1 million purse to charity, with $500,000 going to The LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program and $500,000 going to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities. Every day this week, the LPGA will feature a player’s designated charity, or charities, through LPGA 360. This is the third in the series (previously Yani Tseng and Jennifer Song).
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