Mirror photo by Michael Boytim From left: Jon Condo, Keaton Ellis, Brenton Strange, Tom Whitehead and Kalen King took part in a charity golf tournament Friday in Philipsburg.

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

PHILIPSBURG — The Emily Whitehead Foundation held its eighth annual Tee Off for T-Cells Charity Golf Tournament at the Philipsburg Elks Country Club on Friday.

Long-time Oakland Raider Jon Condo, a Philipsburg-Osceola graduate, hosted the event, and Penn State football players Brenton Strange, Kalen King and Keaton Ellis greeted golfers who were finishing the morning round and starting the afternoon flight.

Emily Whitehead, the girl the foundation is named after following her innovative cancer treatment she recieved called CAR-T cell therapy — a form of immunotherapy, was not in attendance Friday.

That’s because she’s now living the life of a normal, cancer-free teenager.

“Emily is 17, and she’ll be a senior next year,” said Tom Whitehead, Emily’s father and the Foundation’s co-founder. “She got a full scholarship to go to The Grier School in the Tyrone area. She’s actually in a pre-college program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has three roommates, and she’s taking a film and photography class and loving it while getting some college credits in before her senior year of high school, and on May 10 it was her 10-year cancer-free anniversary. They are saying she’s cured.”

The event has had Penn State ties before with appearances from former players like Matt McGloin and many Nittany Lion auction items, but this was the first time active PSU players were in attendance at the event.

“After reading the story, it’s amazing how (Emily) went her way with the treatment and basically set the standard in the way to treat this and helped a lot of other people,” said Strange, a redshirt junior tight end for the Nittany Lions. “It’s an amazing story, and it’s great that they have used it to help others.”

King, a sophomore cornerback, said events like Friday’s are meaningful to him.

“I heard it was for a good cause, and I’m the type of person that likes to show love to people who deserve it,” King said. “Anyone who is going through anything tough in their life, or anyone who needs an extra hand from someone, I’m willing to help. You never know what that person is going through.”

Ellis, a junior safety, is from State College but only learned of Whitehead’s story recently.

“I just heard her story about a week ago, and it’s amazing,” Ellis said. “What she’s been able to do for so many people has been awesome. To be able to support something that has been so impactful and raise money to help kids that are in tough spots and build awareness for them and raise money is a big thing. If we can make an impact, I want to be here doing it.”

With the help, in part from celebrity appearances over the years, the golf event has raised a lot of money to help fund childhood cancer research.

“Over seven years, we have raised more than $350,000,” Tom Whitehead said. “That really, during COVID-19 especially, was the only fundraiser we could hold where we brought people together, because it was outside. I have been told by CNB Bank (the title sponsor) Jon hosting is one of the main reasons they were able to begin sponsoring in the beginning and what he’s brought to our tournament and the awareness.”

Condo has been tied to the event since it started in 2015.

“It’s always a great time to come back,” Condo said. “I love coming back to the community that raised me and all the family and friends I still have here. It’s to give back to the community and support Emily throughout her cancer treatment since having the therapy. To now be 10 years in and doctors say she’s cured, it’s remarkable. To see the support is unbelievable. We had to cut off the number of golfers (at 32 teams), because so many people wanted to show support.”

SUBHED: DBs impressed

Ellis and King have been competing against all of Penn State’s quarterbacks in camp this spring and summer and said they all bring something to the table.

“Everybody looks good,” King said. “Getting to work with all of those guys is a blessing, because all of those guys are good in their own ways — Sean (Clifford), Drew (Allar), Christian (Veilleux) and Beau (Pribula). They are all good players, and we’re all learning from each other. We’re trying to compete during everything so we will be prepared when it’s gametime.”

Ellis said he’ll be happy when he isn’t going up against his teammates and he can see how they do against other teams.

“I’m excited for them,” Ellis said. “I have seen a lot of growth from all the guys, including Sean, and I’m really excited to get out there and watch them succeed. In practice, you are always going against them, but when Saturdays come, I’m ready to be their biggest supporter.”

SUBHED: Coming through

Strange made an impact at tight end last year by catching 20 passes for 225 yards and three scores, but he’s hoping those numbers go up this season.

“I have been working all summer and spring for this season,” Strange said. “It’s a different year. Some guys left, so my role is going to increase. I’m happy for that, because I have worked for it.”

One of Strange’s touchdowns came against Indiana last season and led to an interaction with All Elite Wrestling women’s wrestler Dr. Britt Baker, who was the AEW women’s champion at the time.

Baker, a Punxsutawney native who graduated from Penn State before going to dental school at Pitt, was standing on the sideline near the end zone when Strange caught his touchdown. The momentum carried him into a near collision with Baker, and the television cameras caught the moment.

“She followed me on Instagram after the game,” Strange said. “She had said something (about almost running into her), and I liked her direct message. It was pretty cool. I learned a little bit about her and that she was from PSU. It was cool to connect with an alum.”

SUBHED: Solid secondary

King and Ellis both got some experience last season and believe this year could be even better in Penn State’s defensive secondary.

“I think we can be really good,” King said. “We have a lot of pieces and good skill guys between the corners and the safeties. I think we’re going to be really good this year.”

Ellis said a lot of the potential is tied to the group’s athleticism.

“We have a lot of really great athletes who can really fly to the ball,” Ellis said. “I think we can make a lot of plays. I’m excited for camp and going into the season.”

SUBHED: Condo visits Vegas

Condo’s time as the Raiders’ longsnapper came with the team in Oakland, but he recently had the opportunity to visit the team’s new facilities in Las Vegas, though he hasn’t been invited back for the pre-game ceremony to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch — yet.

“I don’t know if they will ever ask me to light the torch, but I was just there within the last month where they brought in some former players,” said Condo, who now lives in Arizona. “The facility where they practice at and the stadium where they play are unbelievable. It blows my mind to see the amenities that they have there. I’m very happy for the players and the organization after playing in Oakland for so many years. It’s well deserved for the organization.”

Condo, former Raiders punter Shane Lechler and former kicker Sebastian Janikowski all made it to a Pro Bowl, but the current special teams unit of kicker Daniel Carlson (whose game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in the final game of the season last year clinched a playoff berth for both the Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers), punter A.J. Cole and longsnapper Trent Sieg have drawn comparisons to Condo’s unit.

“They are a pretty good unit,” Condo said. “The guys there now are young, but I can see long careers for them. They can be a pretty special group out there.”

SUBHED: Documentary out

The Emily Whitehead Foundation held a hometown screening of the documentary about the CAR-T cell therapy and Emily’s story at Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg on Thursday after it debuted at the Tribeca Festival in New York City in June.

“The goal is to having a streaming service somewhere purchase it,” Tom Whitehead said. “They usually are looking for new material in the fall.”

The documentary, titled “Of Medicine and Miracles” is directed by Ross Kauffman and produced by Robin Honan.

“Not only is (Emily) now cured, she was patient No. 1 in pioneering a new cure for cancer,” Whitehead said. “That has led to this whole revolution of training the immune system to fight cancer. The latest report is that 15,000 patients have benefited in more than 80 countries. We are so proud and traveling the world sharing her story.”