MELE Associates, Inc. announced its inaugural DEFY Charity Golf Tournament that will be held on August 26th, 2024, at the Links at Challendon in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The golf event will benefit Pelotonia, a well-respected non-profit organization best known for its Ride Weekend to benefit cancer research.
100% of the tournament’s proceeds will go to fund cancer research. Please visit the DEFY Golf Tournament website to register for the event or to become a sponsor:
VISIT THE DEFY TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
MELE’s DEFY Charity Golf Tournament is inspired by the amazing life and legacy of Wendy Chioji. Wendy was the beloved daughter of MELE’s CEO Mel Chiogioji and the sister of company President Al Chiogioji. She exemplified what it means to live fearlessly every day and she defied the odds in her multiple battles with cancer before passing away in 2019 to thymic carcinoma.
Wendy had a remarkable career as an Emmy award-winning journalist, spending 25 years as the beloved anchor for WESH2 News in Orlando, Florida. Later in her career she moved to Park City, Utah, where she worked as a freelance journalist and pursued a fitness career. Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2001, Wendy continued to live life on her terms, which meant competing in several Ironman triathlons, ascending both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Fuji, and travelling to all 50 U.S. states and all seven continents.
Wendy was passionate about giving back. She volunteered at the National Ability Center, and supported animal rescue organizations. Wendy also fought hard to find a cure for cancer while bravely sharing her own cancer story to help others. Her fierce love for adventure, animal advocacy, and helping others defined how Wendy lived her life.
Wendy’s favorite mantra was “DEFY,” and this golf tournament is named in her honor. “DEFY” was not just a platitude to Wendy—she passionately lived by this mantra every minute of every day. Wendy’s defiant, positive, and life-loving spirit will live on through her family, her friends, and this charitable golf event.
