Harry Saltzgaver Oct 31, 2017
Luke Johnson was a bit of a reluctant hero — it wasn't his idea to be suffering from leukemia, and it wasn't his fault that he was a neighbor of Suzie Price.
But both were true, and the East Long Beach boy became a symbol of perseverance and courage, thanks at least in part through the efforts of Third District Councilwoman Price. When Johnson died in June 2016 due to complications of the disease, family and friends — including Price — banded together to create the Luke Tatsu Johnson Foundation.
In an effort to keep Johnson's legacy alive, the foundation donates to causes important to him. So the beneficiaries of a charity golf tournament on tap Nov. 3 are scholarships for the Wilson High golfers and Save Our Sick Kids (SOS Kids), which seeks to end childhood deaths caused by infections while children are battling cancer.
Johnson would have been a senior at Wilson this year, and had planned to play on the golf team. The tournament is at Recreation Park Golf Course, Wilson's home course (it borders the school) and one of Johnson's haunts, organizers said.
Players will tee off at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the First Annual Luke Tatsu Johnson Memorial Tournament. There will be prizes and opportunities on the course to compete with current Wilson golfers.
At 6 p.m., activities shift to the Recreation Park Clubhouse for auctions, a dinner and live music. Non-golfers can attend the dinner for $75 a person.
The golf tournament costs $150 a player, with another $75 for dinner. There also are sponsorships available, and non-golfers can purchase tournament shirts and hats or make a donation directly to the foundation.
To find out more or to sign up, go to http://luketatsu.dojiggy.com.