On Monday, September 21, 2026, golfers, friends, families and supporters came together for something much bigger than a round of golf — the first Bella’s Blessings Invitational Golf Tournament.
And before the first golfer ever stepped onto the tee box for the 1 p.m. start, Bella’s Blessings had already raised $20,000!
That is one heck of a way to launch an inaugural tournament.
The day began with lunch and fellowship as golfers gathered ahead of the afternoon round. But behind the food, golf and friendly competition was a much more important purpose: supporting the mission inspired by Annabella “Bella” and her remarkable journey.
Bella was just six years old when, on September 2021, she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, a Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. After months of unexplained sickness, an MRI revealed a tumor roughly the size of a small grapefruit.
In a matter of hours, Bella and her family went from an outpatient MRI to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, NOW Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. Less than 20 hours later, Bella underwent emergency brain surgery.
Yet through an experience that would overwhelm most adults, Bella continued being Bella — even putting on a fashion show for the nurses in the ICU while wearing her sparkly unicorn pajamas.
It is that spirit, along with the kindness shown to Bella and her family during their most difficult days, that helped inspire Bella’s Blessings.
Five years later, that spirit was very much alive at the first Bella’s Blessings Invitational.
By the time lunch was served and golfers prepared for the 1 p.m. tee time, $20,000 had already been raised — before a single drive was hit, before a putt dropped and before the first scorecard was completed.
For a first-year event, that says a lot about the people behind Bella’s Blessings and the community that has embraced its mission.
Golf tournaments come and go. Scores are forgotten. Winning teams eventually become a name on a list.
But helping families, blessing children and turning one family’s difficult journey into an opportunity to serve others — that is something that lasts.
The first Bella’s Blessings Invitational was more than a successful golf tournament.
It was the beginning of what I believe can become a very special annual tradition.
$20,000 raised before the first tee shot.
Not bad for the first one.
Congratulations to Bella, her family, the organizers, sponsors, golfers, volunteers and everyone who opened their hearts — and their wallets — to make the inaugural Bella’s Blessings Invitational Golf Tournament a success.
Here’s to the first of many.
Afterword; Bella’s dad is like MY brother (from another Mom and Dad). A loyal friend since 2006, unlike many in politics, Bryan Hair and I don’t walk away from a great friendship, when times get tough. Because tough times do not define you, they make you better on the other side of toughness. Bryan’s wife, my wife and the three Hair kids are our extended family. While, I don’t have the patience for golf, I worked a beer tent at the tournament, because I have patience to serve beer and have great conversation.
