(Joplin, MO) – A record-shattering $108,677 was raised during this year’s Tournament of Miracles golf scramble, a major fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (CMN) at Freeman Health System.
This is the highest total ever accumulated since the charity event began 33 years ago. The 2024 event raised a then-record $86,000.
“I’m beyond thrilled to see what we’ve accomplished this year,” said Brandy Miller-Turner, Development and CMN manager at Freeman. “It’s more than just a golf tournament — it’s a powerful reminder of what the community can do when we come together for a cause we care deeply about. The real winners are the local families who benefit from the support we raise through this annual event.”
More than 200 golfers — some traveling from as far away as Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City — participated in morning and afternoon flights at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin.
“I got asked 25 years ago by an incredible guy named Bob Higgins in the halls at Freeman if I had kids. I said I did. He asked me if my kids were healthy. I said they were. Then he says to me, ‘You need to join CMN because there are a lot of kids we’re blessed with who are not healthy and need our help,’” said Wes Braman, Vice President of Managed Care with Freeman. “I love golf. I love kids. It’s a great mix. If you’re looking for a way to serve or to give back, Children’s Miracle Network is a wonderful opportunity to do so.”
Every cent of the $100,000-plus raised from the June 2 golf scramble and numerous sponsorships go directly back to families living in the Joplin metro area. CMN services families and individuals in a 14-county area in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.
One of those CMN families highlighted during the 2025 Tournament of Miracles were the Wurdemans from Carl Junction. Earlier this year, Rusk and Sutter Wurdeman were named Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Freeman Health System 2025 Champions. The two brothers, born seven days apart on opposite ends of the Earth, mingled with golfers during the afternoon flight.
Rusk, Brice and Amanda Wurdeman’s sixth biological child, was born on April 16, 2020, with Down syndrome. Sutter, born just seven days earlier in Serbia with Down syndrome, was abandoned at birth and spent the first two years of his life inside a state-sponsored institution. Following a lengthy adoption process, the family adopted Sutter on July 15, 2022, their seventh child.
“It’s overwhelming to see the support and importance from all these people who want to help children in need,” said Brice Wurdeman, who was able to shake hands and speak with the golfers participating in the annual scramble. “We’re just grateful to be asked by Children’s Miracle Network to be able to support and carry on the legacy of so many ambassadors who have represented CMN in the past, and to represent so many kids who desperately need their services.”
CMN has been able to help the family and the two boys’ needs by providing expensive Safety Sleeper beds, leg-strengthening exercise wraps for Sutter, and travel expenses for neurological therapy treatment sessions in Michigan.
“Gas costs, helping with the therapies the boys need, the safe beds — these are things you wouldn’t even think about until you enter into the world of children with disabilities,” Brice Wurdeman said. “Those things really matter, and the costs really add up. CMN helps tremendously with those things.”
Since CMN and Freeman first joined forces in 1987, more than $14 million has been raised for local families and their needs, said Miller-Turner.
“It just makes my heart happy to see so many come out and play golf and network and have a wonderful time,” she said. “But at the heart of all of it is CMN. It warms my heart to know they care so much, and they believe in what we do. The end result is that CMN families win.”
Here are the 2025 Tournament of Miracles results:
Morning Flight
- First Place: Grizzly Bear Golf Cars (Players: Jason Harrell, Natalie Bird, Fred Gardner, and Don Bermel)
- Second Place: People’s Bank of Seneca (Players: Deron Burr, Ronnie Russell, John Klute, and Layne Skiles)
- Third Place: Cary Marion & Family (Players: Cary Marion, Carter Marion, Chris Marion, and Tyler Marion)
- Closest to the Pin: Layne Skiles of People’s Bank of Seneca
- Longest Drive: Kolby Carter (Labette Health)
- Longest Putt: Don Bermel (Grizzly Bear Golf Cars)
Afternoon Flight
- First Place: Dr. David Black & Family (Players: Dr. David Black, Jeff Black, Dr. Chris Black, and Brian Black)
- Second Place: Benefit Management (Players: Rick Malchow, Greg Crawford, Maron Towse, Ian Surbrugg)
- Third Place: H.E. Williams (Players: Nathan Doubledee, Roger Robertson, Cade Fagg, and Rich Castillo)
- Closest to Pin: Tom Owen of Lakeland Office Systems
- Longest Drive: Alex Page of Missouri Southern State University
- Longest Putt: Brittany Mackin of the Reeves Family
50/50 Winner
- Nathan Doubledee of H.E. Williams
About Children’s Miracle Network:
Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Freeman Health System raises funds for local children and families, receiving assistance for those with medical needs, such as prescriptions, medical equipment, and specialty care. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Freeman Health System offers several different assistance programs to support local children. Through Direct Family Assistance, families can obtain specialty equipment, travel assistance and other medically necessary items. The Miracle Service Dog program awards two specially trained service dogs to meet the needs of the child and family. Every child that comes to Freeman Health System for care receives a comfort pack from the Higgins Heroes. These packs make staying in the hospital a little easier.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center — the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services — as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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