Typically, Garland would be in the midst of biking, walking or canoeing his way across the United States to raise awareness for cancer research. This year, Garland stayed local and rested his robust body to host a golf tournament to benefit Relay for Life in 2018.

 

Five teams and 20 players teed off June 25 at Pebble Creek Golf Course on a beautiful, weather-wise day. The format was a four-person scramble for men and women with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The day was filled with door prizes, a putting contest, a closest-to-the-pin contest and a dinner at 6 p.m.

 

The winner of the putting contest received a four-night, five-day cruise donated by Mike and Peggy Garland. The winner of the closest-to-the-pin contest received two VIP tickets to an event of their choice (sports, concerts, musicals and more).

 

The hole-in-one contest was sponsored by Mies Outland and Polaris. Other sponsors included Becker Furniture World, D. J. Bitzan Jewelers, LPI, Inc., Sherburne State Bank, CentraCare Health and Angell’s Construction.

 

Garland plans to hold a second annual golf tournament next year and hopes the turnout and sponsorship grows.

 

 

Garland recently had a book self-published through Amazon, recounting his three fundraising treks he took on the last few years, raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

 

The Mike+You=Cure paperback book is a story of Mike's continuous journey to raise awareness for the Relay For Life. In the book — written by Mike and Mary Davis of Florida —the readers can hear about Mike’s bicycle travels from Minnesota to Oregon, the beautiful sites on the Pacific Crest Trail while hiking from Mexico to Canada — as well as adventures on the mighty Mississippi River from the Headwaters to the Gulf. 

 

Mike's travels have allowed him to speak with countless people and raise thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society and he hopes his book will explain his desire to do the things he does and possibly inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

 

The 438-page book is available at Amazon.com for $19.99 or by contacting Mike via his Facebook page.

 

“Hopefully people will read it, like it, share it and tell others to buy the book,” Mike says. “It’s an easy read and it’ll help people figure out why I do what I do.”

 

Mike says all proceeds from the book will go directly to the cancer society. He plans to continue his speaking tours and hopes to include a few book signing venues in the near future.

 

He also may be planning another cross country trek in the next year or so. The mission: walk the 3,100 miles for five-to-six months of the continental divide.

 

“If the book does well and raises awareness, then I’ll consider doing it,” said Mike. “It’s treacherous and less than 50 people ever complete it annually. But I’ll consider it if I can get distribution of the book over 1,000.”