Hammer still enjoying his labor of love

Just another day of producing one of the largest privately-held cancer fundraisers in the nation, if not the world. Hammer, a San Carlos native, said his two fundraising events — there will be another one in September — will raise another $315,000 this year that the foundation will distribute to 24 different cancer organizations. September’s event will wrap up 13 years of raising money for cancer research and related organizations, during which time Hammer has helped raise and donate $2.75 million.

And it remains a labor of love for Hammer and his family.

“It’s fun because it’s ours,” Hammer said. “We do enjoy it still because it’s a labor of something we started from nothing. We never thought it would be to this magnitude.”

As a refresher, Hammer is a two-time testicular cancer survivor. Literally days before he was to have surgery that would have prevented him and his wife Kim to have any more children by natural conception, Hammer had a meeting with Lance Armstrong’s oncologist. Long story short, the surgery was canceled and 14 years ago, the Hammers’ son, Josh, was conceived naturally.

Since then, Hammer has been beholden to the cancer-survivor mantra of giving back. If there is ever a time Hammer thinks all the effort is too much or he is tired of the work, all he has to do is look at Josh to give him the bump in adrenaline he needs.

“That’s exactly right,” Hammer said. “There is still a strong reason why we do this.”

But there is also the fact that Hammer tries to make his events about more than just golf. In fact, golf is almost secondary.

“Part of the beauty of the event is, it’s really not about the golf. It’s about going and seeing your friends,” Hammer said. “I think the reason we have 600 people (registered for the two events) is they know it’s Kim and I and they appreciate the fact it’s Kim and I. They appreciate the fact it’s still a mom-and-pop sort of thing.

“Out of the 600 people (between the two events), I would say a solid 250 of them have played twice a year for 13 years. We call it the Have a Ball family. … They’re kind of our extended family.”

A “mom-and-pop sort of thing” that features, in addition to the two title sponsors, 56 corporate sponsors, 65 hole sponsors and 52 hole vendors. Have a Ball surpassed the mom-and-pop level years ago, despite the fact Hammer and wife continue to be the main, major producers putting this all together out of their garage in Danville.

At the signature hole Monday, for example, Milagros restaurant of Redwood City was serving tacos and margaritas, MillerCoors was serving up suds, the Norm Bautista Band was playing while local rock radio legends Steven Seaweed and Lamont Hollywood of 107.7 The Bone were holding court as well.

That is one heck of a party and that’s just one hole.

While there is a good time to be had for the players, Hammer realizes that a lot of corporations have given a lot of money to be involved and it’s up to him and his team to make sure that those who are spending the most are shown a good time as well.

Seems Hammer hit that nail on the head as well.

“At the end of the day, it is a corporate event; $200,000 of the $315,000 that I raised is through corporate sponsorship. I want them to come back. You have to be on your corporate best behavior,” Hammer said.

“We had a corporate sponsor who was new this year,” Hammer continued. “He came up to me and flat out said, ‘I go to a lot of golf tournaments across the country … and this is, bar none, the best tournament I’ve been to, and I’ve been doing this a long time.’ That’s when you get that little tingle in your throat.

“I take great pride in that, to be honest. As big we are and it’s still just us.”

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117. You can follow him on Twitter @CheckkThissOutt.