CARLSBAD -- Brandon Gandy and Lori West were the guest celebrities at the 13th annual Benefit Golf Classic benefiting Conner's Cause for Children on May 18 at The Crossings. About 75 guests enjoyed a day on the links and the dinner afterwards. The benefit raised $20,000.

Gandy was there because he is a Conner's Cause success story. Born with 15 birth defects, he came to the fundraiser to play a good game of golf and to express his thanks to the group that helped him and his family through some hard times.

When he was 14, it was determined that it would be best for him to see a world-renowned surgeon in New York City. Conner's Cause paid the travel expenses for him, his parents and his brother and sister.

"I have had a pretty much normal life after that," said Gandy, though he did get a kidney transplant from his mom, Linda, four years ago. "I wrestled in high school … but then my dad got me into golf." He's become good enough to win the Closest to the Pin trophy at this year's tournament.

West was there because she's a two-time winner on the LPGA Legends Tour and a fun gal to play golf with. Besides playing, she had the job of giving out the prizes for the top players. Among the top scorers receiving trophies were Doug Baken, Louis McKay, Craig Fuller and Jonathan Fuller.

Conner's Cause, a nonprofit group, helps families of children with life-threatening diseases or injuries who struggle to pay their basic expenses when a child is critically ill. Local families in San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties who have trouble keeping gas in the car, paying the phone bill, keeping the lights on or food on the table can apply to Conner's Cause for assistance.

It was founded in 1994 by the parents, family and friends of Conner Champ, who was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor at age 4.

"Last year, we helped over 300 families, and we couldn't do this without you," Carol DelSignore, executive director of Conner's Cause, told the guests.

The group's board of directors are Conner's parents, John and Judy Champ, Tracy Bennett, Karen and Ray Gliner and Dr. Jennifer Willert.

The golf classic committee was Tracy Bennett, Diane Branon, Jamie Carr, Judy Champ, Debra Conrady, Tina Egge, Nicole Egge, Karen Gliner, Stacy Holborow, Anna Hull, Haley Nordin, David Thompson and Pauline Wolf.

Some of the guests who enjoyed the day were Brad Bennett, Dale Yahnke, Jason Hirschman, Paul King, Marc Posthumus, Dan Oury, Skip Coomber, Debra Conrady, Eric Thurston, Pauli Wolfe, Dana Albert, Matt Balsz, Curt Hess, Mark Omera and Jeff Higashi.