Christian Johnston Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament started as a benefit to help Christian and his family in August of 1998. Christian was a 2 year old boy that had an intestinal transplant in Miami, Florida. Christian was from North Carolina but no hospitals in North Carolina were performing this type transplant at the time. With the desire of having just one fundraiser instead of many small ones, came the idea of the golf tournament. Many had heard of tournaments in the area to help kids in need, but no one really knew where to begin. A group of people were ready and willing to help little Christian. The next thing you know a group of 5 committee members and 14 volunteers were ready to go into action. Through the years the tournament helped Christian with airfare, food and lodging while in the hospital and with medication not covered by insurance. This golf tournament never made a lot of money but it was just enough to get Christian and his family through to the next year.

As time went on Christian’s health became very poor. He passed away in August of 2003 right after the 6th annual golf tournament .He is missed greatly but his memory lives on through this tournament. Christian may have passed away but his gift to give to others remains with all the members of the committee and the volunteers that work so hard every year.

This is the second Christian Johnston Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament. Many children have been helped in Christian’s name. The hope is to continue to help more children than we ever dreamed possible. One little boy with his shining light and heart of gold started this tournament.

Now this tournament is dedicated to helping other transplant kids that need financial assistance.