Wednesday June 20, 2012

BRATLEBORO -- The Brattleboro Country Club will today host the annual Corbeil Classic, a fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund.

The golf event is held each year in memory of founder J. Wayne Corbeil and his son, Bill Corbeil, who is described as an avid supporter of the tournament.

Created in 1990, J. Wayne was inspired to organize the event after meeting former Red Sox shortstop and third baseman, Rico Petrocelli, who at the time was also Director of Sports Programs for the Dana-Farber Institute. J. Wayne ran the tournament until he died in 1992. With Petrocelli’s help, J. Wayne’s brother, David, continued the tournament in his brother’s honor.

Bill Corbeil and his wife, Kelli, moved to Brattleboro in 2007, and immediately became involved with the event. According to a release, doctors discovered a spot on Bill’s lung during a routine x-ray in the same year. At first, it was believed that the spot was simply scar tissue, but after several follow-up visits to doctors it was discovered the spot was growing. It was only after having surgery to remove a part of his lung and a following biopsy that Bill and his family discovered the spot was cancer. Bill died in 2009 after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

To date, The Corbeil Classic has raised more than $300,000 to support Dana-Farber.

In addition to the golf tourney, the event will also feature a raffle, silent and live auctions and

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family fun. Petrocelli, as well as Bill and Kelli’s sons, 5-year-old Zachary and Connor, who turns 12 today, will also be on hand.

For more information, call 802-257-7380.