Women from Texas come to Vera Classic

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - You could hear Team Hope, as they called themselves, down the golf course. They were laughing and having a good time cheering on each other's hits, and raising money for breast cancer research all at the same time.

"It's very important. At our age we're seeing more and more friends getting breast cancer, so it's very important to find a cure," Ruthie Altekruse said.

Altekurse lives next door to Ella Buckley in Dallas, Texas. They flew to Fort Wayne to golf in the 16th Annual Vera Bradley Classic. Buckley is a two time breast cancer survivor.

"I know how the research benefited me. I came because of my good friend Ruthie and because I'm a survivor," Buckley said. She's been in remission from her second bout of cancer for a year and a half.

Also on Buckley's team was Jean Paolucci, a five-year breast cancer survivor.

"I'm part of some of that research and I'm here," Paolucci said. "Fort Wayne does a heck of a job. They are so generous here."

The past classics have raised a total of $8.5 million for breast cancer research at the Indiana University Cancer Center.

"We're a female company. It was started by two women and we make handbags, so we feel like it's a perfect cause for us," Vera Bradley co-founder Barbara Baekgaard said.

Baekgaard's college roommate died of breast cancer. That inspired Baekgaard and co-founder Pat Miller to support breast cancer research.

After years of growing, Baekgaard is amazed to see nearly 400 golfers and about 250 tennis players participate this year.

"It just gets bigger every year. It's wonderful," she said.

Rain early Monday did delay tee-time. That made organizers change the 18-hold scramble to a 9-hole scramble, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the golfers.

"We don't care. We're shooting wonderfully and Vera Bradley does a fabulous job. That's all we care about," golfer Sally Johnson said. "I have many friends who are survivors of breast cancer or have breast cancer, so I think it's important for all women to get together for it and band together for it."

Baekgaard added even in the down economy, the number of people donating went up.

"We might not raise the same dollar amount as we did last year, but to my way of thinking, it's a huge success. When we get through this economy, those same people will be there," Baekkgaard.

The amount of money raised this year hasn't been announced yet. NewsChannel 15 will have that total on Nightcast at 11.