Ottawa boy’s legacy of giving will live on

Rodney White, 7, smiles while checking out his new KU-themed room on April 18 in Ottawa. Rodney died in June, but a golf tournament this fall will carry on his legacy of helping others.

Join the cause

The third annual HotRod Benefit Golf Tournament will be Oct. 9 at Ottawa Country Club, 1001 E. Logan St.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. with lunch at 11:30 a.m. The shotgun start is at noon.

The cost is $50 per player or $200 for a team of four players.

Sponsorships are available and range from $50 for a cart sponsorship to $1,000 for a corporate sponsorship, which includes a team.

The tournament benefits organizations that help children who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. It is held in honor of the late Rodney White.

To register or for more information, contact Dana White by e-mail at dana.white@live.com or 785-242-8242.

Flyers are available at the Franklin County Visitors and Information center, 2011 E. Logan St.

There will be a pre-tournament party with live music at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Sandbar in Ottawa, 1608 S. Main. Rodney’s brother, Russell, will play guitar to kick off the event.

A golf tournament will continue the legacy of 7-year-old Rodney White, who lost his battle with cancer in June.

The third annual HotRod Benefit Golf Tournament, which will be Oct. 9 at Ottawa Country Club, will benefit children facing life-threatening illnesses.

“We want to ensure that other kids — just like in Rodney’s situation — also get the same blessings to be able to enjoy their lives and get away from their sickness for a little while,” said Dana White, Rodney’s mother.

Dana’s sister, Denise Woods, started the tournament in 2008 when Rodney was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma. Rodney, whom family and friends nicknamed HotRod, made a brief appearance at the fundraiser because he was undergoing treatments. It raised about $13,000 to help with medical expenses and the costs of driving back and forth to Kansas City, Mo.

The next year, he was cancer-free and wanted to give back.

“Rodney always talked about getting a job so he could help other kids, so we thought, ‘Let’s have the second annual and let Rodney do that,'” Dana said.

She said Rodney enjoyed handing out awards and trophies at the tournament. More importantly, the tournament raised $11,000, and Rodney was able to personally deliver checks to two children, who were 4 at the time. He presented one to Joshua Berr, of Williamsburg, who had leukemia, and one to Delaney Murphy, of Ottawa, who had spina bifida.

“He was so happy to do that. He thought that was pretty neat,” Dana said.

In January, Rodney’s cancer returned.

In April, the White family — including Rodney’s father, Scott, and older brother Russell — were surprised with a home makeover by “Professionals Helping Children,” a group of Ottawa volunteers. The group spent a week sprucing up the Whites’ home while the family stayed at a hotel. Rodney, a Kansas University fan, was thrilled with his newly decorated crimson-and-blue bedroom. The boys also had a new two-story playhouse in the backyard.

The makeover was a nice distraction for Rodney, although his mother said he never complained about his illness.

“His spirit was amazing. His attitude is what kept me going most of the time,” she said.

Now, the Whites are planning the third golf tournament to recognize their son, and to give back to the organizations that helped them.

“We have had time to think back at all of the good memories with Rodney, and we wouldn’t have had those if certain organizations weren’t out there to help,” Dana said.

This year’s beneficiaries will be Professionals Helping Children, Make a Wish Foundation, and the University of Table Rock Lake Foundation, which provides a weekend vacation to Table Rock Lake in Missouri.

“Our goal is to continue to do this every year, and to continue to reach out to organizations,” Dana said.

The Whites are establishing a Rodney White Children’s Foundation and plan to have more fundraisers.