“Dam Man’s Crew” Presents $9,000 Check to Schiffler Cancer Center at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital

WHEELING - The Schiffler Cancer Center at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital is $9,000 richer following a donation from golfing supporters of "The Dam Man."

"The Dam Man's Crew" presented the check on Thursday in memory of Rick "The Dam Man" Brinker. The lockmaster at the Pike Island Lock and Dam lost his cancer battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2007.

For the past seven years, his family and friends have sponsored a golf scramble to honor his memory. Each year's event has raised between $7,000 and $9,000 - for a total of about $50,000, according to organizers.

This year's event is set for 1 p.m. on June 15 at the Crispin Golf Course at Oglebay Park.

Prior to starting the golf scramble, the group participated in the annual "Relay for Life" for 10 years, and raised $100,000 during that time, said Brinker's wife, Beth Brinker.

"Rick loved his family and living life to its fullest," she said. "We have been blessed with so many generous friends and businesses supporting our cause."

Brinker had many friends, and even those who didn't know him were inspired to join those getting together to help his cause.

Ironically, "he didn't golf much," according to Beth Brinker.

"But if he were alive today, he would be right there alongside everybody doing this," she said. "Everyone liked him."