PGA Superstore tees up fun for patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
By Joe Ripley
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ATLANTA (WXIA) — Asa Temple and his dad Austin love spending time together. The therapy and healing it fosters, even in the hospital, is priceless. Last August, doctors diagnosed Asa with leukemia.
“I noticed he had a whole bunch of bruising on his knee, and I had been thinking back the whole week,” Austin said. “He was taking extra naps, was more sluggish, didn’t eat very much. “I was like no, surely not. It changed everything really.”
After months of going in and out of the hospital and rearranging schedules to take care of Asa’s three siblings, Austin found a little relief that went a long way in Asa’s healing journey.
Patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta got to hit golf balls on a minigolf course, pet some dogs and take a few swings in the golf simulator as part of PGA Superstore’s minigolf all-stars event.
“It gets him out of the room, gets his energy back, starts having more fun and lights up more than having to sit in the bed the whole day,” Austin said.
Jaleesa Warren, creative program supervisor at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital, said kids often go through challenging times, whether they’re getting a routine checkup, scans, devastating diagnoses or even surgeries.
“Kids learn and grow and heal through play, so coming into the Zone is great for them to be able to do just that,” Warren said. “It ranges from something really light and simple like a typical visit, or getting some news they may not have thought about or getting some scans or getting surgery, getting out and having a place to have fun and take the load off a little bit. It shows our patients and families that everyone is here to support them through their journeys.”
The newest PGA Superstore, which opened Saturday in Buckhead, teed up some fun in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Brian Williams, general manager of PGA Superstore Buckhead, said there’s a special connection to the Arthur M. Blank Hospital because Blank Family of Businesses owns the Roswell-based company. He said each PGA Superstore location would donate to Children’s throughout the summer as part of a giving campaign.
“One of our core values in our company is to give back to others, and I can’t think of a better way before we get our store crazy with customers, to take some time so our associates can volunteer their time and make some connections,” Williams said. “We want a chance to get out and make a difference in the community. It’s just a great way to spread the joy of golf and to get to know some new people.”
Even on the most challenging course, Austin hopes his son Asa, a name that means healer, finds healing of his own.
“You think through all the hardship, and I want to take it,” Austin said. “I want to do it for him, but obviously that’s not an option. Who knows, this is part of his journey and what it looks like. Healer, who knows what he’ll do someday. He’s mighty, he really is.”
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