Little Eddie Gets Big Boost for Mental Health Programs

The Royal Family – (from left) Larry and Rebecca Majewski, and Sarah and Brian Bonovich – made an appearance at the eighth Little Eddie Big Cup. Submitted.

A last-minute gift helped to double the impact of the eighth annual Little Eddie Big Cup golf outing at Peninsula State Park on Oct. 2. 

During the nine years since Eddie Strege’s passing, his friends and family have turned the event into not only a celebration of his life, but also a fundraiser to support mental health programs in Door County. Strege died by suicide after battling mental illness. 

Shortly before this year’s outing, Sister Bay resident Werner Krause contacted organizers with an idea to boost the event’s impact: He would donate $100 for every birdie, $500 for every eagle and $5,000 for every hole-in-one scored on the day. 

Nobody hit a hole-in-one, but by the end of the day, golfers had turned in $22,000 worth of birdies and eagles, doubling the funds raised at the event. 

“When he pledged that donation to our cause, we got chills,” said Rachel Willems, a member of the Big Cup planning committee that also includes Ivan Bridenhagen, Emilie Nash, Lauren Aurelius, and James and Kayla Larsen. “We felt humbled and proud that the community is recognizing what we’re doing. It makes you think that what you’re doing is pretty powerful.”

The event sold out in eight hours, attracting 144 golfers for an event that brings together Strege’s family and his many friends from Door County and Milwaukee for an event that embodies the spirit of a friend not forgotten.

“It always is such an amazing day, a beautiful feeling because we know we’re putting on a day that he would have loved,” Willems said. “He would have been there in a crazy costume, laughing.”

Krause, who moved to Sister Bay 30 years ago after spending most of his career in Sheboygan, said he was inspired to give because of his own life experiences. His father struggled with mental health issues, and his sister-in-law died by suicide after struggling with addiction.

“This is a good avenue to get money meaningfully into mental health programs,” Krause said. “And that would be a great legacy for Ed, to have it in his name and his honor to bring some real good forces to bear.”

Krause said he plans to make the donation annually, giving participants in the Little Eddie Big Cup extra motivation to work on their golf games – and their costumes – during the weeks leading up to the tournament. 

His donation helped to raise $42,000 this year, bringing the event’s eight-year total to more than $172,000 raised for the Mental Health Awareness Fund, and to support Strege’s widow, Megan; and son, Oliver. 

For Willems and the tight-knit group behind the Little Eddie Big Cup, it has become much more than a day on the links that their friend loved. 

“When Ed died the way he did, you feel there’s nothing you can do,” she said. “But this donation and this event and the community that has grown around it changes that.”

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: a hotline for individuals in crisis and those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1.800.273.8255 or text the Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741. This service is free, available 24/7 and confidential.