12-year-old Palm Harbor Girl Is Playing For Her Terminally Ill Mother
Dakoda Dowd has become the most famous 12-year-old in golf. Which isn't to suggest that she's the most well-known "tween" elsewhere.
Or, for that matter, even the most famous kid named Dakoda, spelling notwithstanding.
"Well, there's Dakota Fanning," Dowd said of the child-star actress. "I'm really jealous. She's already a multi-millionaire."
Truth be told, Dowd, a promising junior player from Palm Harbor, would be happiest if she was just another anonymous kid. Her growing publicity parade continued Saturday at the Reunion Resort, where she was named the junior spokesperson for the national charity Birdies for Breast Cancer, an affliction the Dowd family knows intimately.
Last month, Dakoda was given a sponsor exemption into the inaugural LPGA Ginn Open in April, and the family is praying that Kelly Jo Dowd's terminal breast cancer doesn't take her life before she gets a chance to see her only child play with the game's top pros. Their story was picked up by several newspaper and TV outlets, making Dakoda a mini-celebrity, especially in golf circles.
Dakoda has grown up plenty in months since learning that her mom had only about a year to live and she's poised to help others in the same dire situation. The Ginn Company, developers of Reunion and the Bella Collina communities in the Orlando area, has pledged $100 for every birdie she makes in 2006 in her junior, high school and amateur events. Others can donate directly to the charity in Dowd's name at birdiesforbreastcancer.com.
"I think it's very special," Dowd said. "I'm glad to help other kids, other moms, because I don't think anybody should have to go through this."
Her parents continue to be swept up in a tidal wave of emotion that began when the LPGA sponsor exemption was announced. Of course, helping raise money to fight cancer trumps competing in a tournament by a long par-5 and then some.
"What a way to honor her mom," said Mike Dowd, 45, Dakoda's dad. "Her mom and I were talking today, 'Would you ever believe your daughter would be able to carry the torch of your memory?' What an incredible gift. It's much more incredible than playing in the tournament."
The Dowds live in a cramped apartment near the Innisbrook Resort in Pinellas County. Mike has had to quit his job to take care of his wife, yet there are some unseemly types out there trying to capitalize on their pain. The Ginn Company considered starting a Web site for the Dowds to help generate support, emotionally and financially, but found that a man in Largo had already registered the Internet domain name dakodadowd.com and is hoping to cash in by selling the title.
"Just some shameless opportunist," Mike Dowd said. "[Developer] Bobby Ginn tried to talk to the gentlemen, but he won't relent. It's just ridiculous."
Still, Kelly Jo has had an extra spring in her step for the past few weeks. Instead of just waiting around for fate to tap her on the shoulder, the family is fighting back as a unit.
"This makes me feel so elated and overjoyed that something like this has come into our lives," said Kelly Jo, 40. "I'm just so very, very proud that we're part of something like this."
Dakoda was formally named the junior captain for the charity by LPGA star Cristie Kerr, the charity spokesperson. Kerr's mom had cancer, too, but survived.
"Anything that heightens awareness of breast cancer makes me feel 100 percent better," Kelly Jo said.
Or, for that matter, even the most famous kid named Dakoda, spelling notwithstanding.
"Well, there's Dakota Fanning," Dowd said of the child-star actress. "I'm really jealous. She's already a multi-millionaire."
Truth be told, Dowd, a promising junior player from Palm Harbor, would be happiest if she was just another anonymous kid. Her growing publicity parade continued Saturday at the Reunion Resort, where she was named the junior spokesperson for the national charity Birdies for Breast Cancer, an affliction the Dowd family knows intimately.
Last month, Dakoda was given a sponsor exemption into the inaugural LPGA Ginn Open in April, and the family is praying that Kelly Jo Dowd's terminal breast cancer doesn't take her life before she gets a chance to see her only child play with the game's top pros. Their story was picked up by several newspaper and TV outlets, making Dakoda a mini-celebrity, especially in golf circles.
Dakoda has grown up plenty in months since learning that her mom had only about a year to live and she's poised to help others in the same dire situation. The Ginn Company, developers of Reunion and the Bella Collina communities in the Orlando area, has pledged $100 for every birdie she makes in 2006 in her junior, high school and amateur events. Others can donate directly to the charity in Dowd's name at birdiesforbreastcancer.com.
"I think it's very special," Dowd said. "I'm glad to help other kids, other moms, because I don't think anybody should have to go through this."
Her parents continue to be swept up in a tidal wave of emotion that began when the LPGA sponsor exemption was announced. Of course, helping raise money to fight cancer trumps competing in a tournament by a long par-5 and then some.
"What a way to honor her mom," said Mike Dowd, 45, Dakoda's dad. "Her mom and I were talking today, 'Would you ever believe your daughter would be able to carry the torch of your memory?' What an incredible gift. It's much more incredible than playing in the tournament."
The Dowds live in a cramped apartment near the Innisbrook Resort in Pinellas County. Mike has had to quit his job to take care of his wife, yet there are some unseemly types out there trying to capitalize on their pain. The Ginn Company considered starting a Web site for the Dowds to help generate support, emotionally and financially, but found that a man in Largo had already registered the Internet domain name dakodadowd.com and is hoping to cash in by selling the title.
"Just some shameless opportunist," Mike Dowd said. "[Developer] Bobby Ginn tried to talk to the gentlemen, but he won't relent. It's just ridiculous."
Still, Kelly Jo has had an extra spring in her step for the past few weeks. Instead of just waiting around for fate to tap her on the shoulder, the family is fighting back as a unit.
"This makes me feel so elated and overjoyed that something like this has come into our lives," said Kelly Jo, 40. "I'm just so very, very proud that we're part of something like this."
Dakoda was formally named the junior captain for the charity by LPGA star Cristie Kerr, the charity spokesperson. Kerr's mom had cancer, too, but survived.
"Anything that heightens awareness of breast cancer makes me feel 100 percent better," Kelly Jo said.
posted by John at 4:21 PM
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