Shriners work and play hard for good cause

JOHNSONVILLE – Children who are crippled or burned may get medical help to deal with their problems because of some dedicated area folks who are committed to help them.

The Omar Jailbirds threw a party Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Wellman Club Golf Course in Johnsonville, but it wasn’t just for fun. It was all in a good cause, because the golf tournament has for nine years raised thousands of dollars to help children. The help is available to all children without discrimination and, if the family has no insurance, the help is free. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible.

Member Herman Lewis says that the majority of the children from this area go to the Shiners’ Hospital in Greenville. Last year the event raised $16,000.

“This is what we do,” says Lewis. “Every time you see a Shriner, he has his hands out, either asking for something or selling you something.”

The Shriners have a lot of fun, as well. The Jailbirds often show up at parades with their theme song, Jailhouse Rock, and Lewis as the sober judge.

Lewis says the Jailbirds are a dry unit of the Shriners. No alcohol is ever served at any of their functions.

Lewis said the hospitals do research and specialize in their kind of treatment, often being able to give children help when others medical facilities could not.

Jimmy Rowe, and Truitt Owens were at the barbeque cooker. They said the Jailbirds were number two in raising funds last year, and number one the year before. “It’s amazing how many people come up to us, saying that they’ve been, or someone in their family has been to a Shriners Hospital,” said Rowe. “If someone needs this kind of care, they need to find a Shriner, who will connect them. You have to be sponsored by a Shriner.”

Ed McLeod transports children to the hospital from this area. He’s been to the Greenville hospital 85 times and to Cincinnati five times. Greenville handles orthopedic cases, while Cincinnati handles burns and cleft palates. Children have to have frequent visits for repeat surgery or for prostheses adjustments or replacements, because they are growing.

“I see the kids in the hospitals and they have amazing attitudes. You see them without legs or arms, and have to have painful operations or therapy, but they stay cheerful.”

“We lost the hospital at Galveston because of Ike, and it will not be reopened. They are going to consolidate some more, because of the economy, and we hope we don’t lose the Greenville hospital. We’d have to take kids a lot farther, if they close it,” said McLeod.

Out on the course, Donnis Lentz of Johnsonville was playing because it’s for crippled children. “Some days on the golf course are better than others,” he said, laughing. “I need a shot now to bring myself back.”

Tim Meeks from West VA said his partners were carrying him. He was with his son Tom and best friend Roger Clina travel and they regularly play tournaments wherever they can find them. “We heard about this place, called down here and used the GPS to find the course. Trust me, we will definitely be back to play here. The prices are just too good to be true; we will come inland to play in the future – no more play along the ocean!”

Meeks said he’d be in a tournament for the Shriners in his hometown in July. “My wife doesn’t stand a chance. We are all in love with golf.”

Olin Altman, Brandon Chastain, and Brent Chastain said they were playing to help the Shriners – playing almost every year, because a family member is paralyzed and has been helped by the Shriners’ hospital. “It’s worth every dime of it,” they said.

Jared Poston of Hemingway brought Ricky Liggett of Georgetown and Chad Britt of Florence for his team. The two had never been to this tournament before. They said, “Jared’s uncle is a Shriner and we’ve always been invited to play, but it’s always been on the Kentucky Derby weekend.” They commented on the beauty of the course.

Blake Owens of Johnsonville, a student at Francis Marion, said Mr. Wayne (Avant) called him up to come as his partner, and he had to come to support the cause.

Avant said when he became a Shriner; he saw a lot of activity that was good fun, especially at initiations. He had a trailer, and he put some bars on it to make a jailhouse. “The first year we had a doctor, a lawyer, and a judge locked up. Some paid to put them there and then they paid big money to get them out. We even had one guy had the girls lined up to get kisses as payment to get out.”

“The Temple said we had a good thing going, so the Omar Jailbirds became a regular thing.”

Jimmy Rowe cooked a hog for a barbeque, assisted by Basil Cribb.  Other members Linwood Cribb, George Cribb, George Thompson, and David Rose were at the food tent serving goodies for participants.

More info about the Shriners’ hospitals is available at:
http://www.shrinershq.org/About/