MANKATO — Randy Reichert had never been to the Ronald McDonald House fundraiser that has been held the last 12 years in memory of Landon Wanous, but when it’s a good cause, he’s willing to do more than attend. He’s going to help coordinate it.
Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest has seven locations in Minnesota, Reichert said, with five in the Twin Cities and one in Rochester and one in Duluth. In 2023, it served 5,700 families who had a family member suffering from such diagnoses as premature birth, heart disease, genetic disorders, cancer, accident-related trauma and more.
For the last 12 years, a local golf tournament has been run by Cassi Jo and Jason Wanous, whose son, Landon, died at just a few months old. They utilized those services while Landon was being treated, Reichert said.
Over those 12 years, they’ve raised more than $120,000. They’re still seeking sponsors and participants for the Aug. 9 event. For more information, to register or become a sponsor, people can visit rmhc-uppermidwest.org/katogolf/
“I’ve been retired for eight years, and one of the things you learn is we’ve all been very fortunate,” Reichert said. “We, fortunately, haven’t had to use the services of the Ronald McDonald House. But we see the families that do.”
That’s one of the reasons that he and friend Pat Hudson stepped up to lead the tournament and add to the funds that have been raised, he said. They hoped to continue Landon’s parents’ efforts.
“After Landon passed away, we talked about something we could do in Landon’s memory and to pay it forward for other families that will need RMH in the future,” said Cassi Jo Wanous. “That’s how the golf tournament was started.”
The Wanous twins, Landon and Kolton, were born 15 weeks early, weighing only a pound and a half each, she said. They learned about Ronald McDonald house and took advantage of services to stay close to the boys during their time in the newborn intensive care unit.
Landon caught an intestinal infection and died under 3 months old; Kolton spent a total of 104 days in NICU before being released.
“During our time at the RMH, we had a place to rest and recharge, transportation to the hospital at all times during the day and night, food and, most importantly, support and encouragement,” she said.
Because of that, they set a goal of 10 years of running the tournament, which they surpassed.
“At this point in our lives, we just don’t have the time to dedicate to the months of planning it takes for a successful event and this started the conversation about what’s next for the tournament.” That’s when the Reichert/Hudson group came forward.
“We are very grateful that it will continue and it will be bittersweet for us to participate as golfers and not hosts moving forward,” she said.
For their part, Reichert and group are accentuating the unique features of the event.
“The tournament is unique because it is the only tournament of this kind held on a Friday at the Mankato Golf Club,” Reichert said. As a private club with a reputation as one of the premiere courses in southern Minnesota, it provides a great opportunity to play it.
A total of 36 foursomes can participate in the shotgun-style tournament. Costs are $500 for a foursome, $125 for an individual and $100 for a hole sponsor. Registration includes a continental breakfast, round of golf with a cart, picnic lunch and a bag of goodies, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest.