By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – While Roy Meyer spends his week as the director of Software Quality Assurance at CA Technologies, much of his spare time is spent helping others.
Meyer has lived in Westborough for the past 22 years with his wife, Nancy, and their children, Brian, 25, and Katie, 23. Katie, who was born with Down syndrome, started participating with the Shrewsbury Special Olympics when she was six years old. Today, she is a member of the Special Olympics ski and golf teams. She has also participated in swimming, gymnastics, soccer and basketball events. Meyer, who has coached the Shrewsbury Special Olympics golf and ski teams (five and 10 years respectively), has been an avid advocate for Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA).
When Katie is not training for the Special Olympics, she works for Stop & Stop in Westborough and spends weekdays at the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center, in Hopkinton. The center is renowned for providing emotional and physical support for local individuals with disabilities and their families.
Starting in 1991, Meyer organized an annual golf tournament for fellow employees at his former company, Banyan. But in 2003, he decided to use it also a way to raise funds for SOMA.
“The event has turned into a tradition and people look forward to playing every year. Ninety percent of the players have been playing for a very long time. We usually have around eighty golfers and raise about $4,000,” he said.
The 2013 “Banyan Open” will be a fundraiser for the Respite Center.
“Katie has been going to the Respite Center for the last two years and it’s like having an extended family,” said Meyer, who will organize, emcee and participate in the event.
The Banyan Open will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Wedgewood Pines Country Club in Stow. A shotgun start at 12:30 pm. will kick off the tournament which will then follow a “scramble” format. Prizes will be awarded for the top three winning teams, two longest drives, four closest to the pin, most accurate drive, longest putt, hardest working team (highest gross score) and 50/50 hole. A dinner and raffle will follow. Registration is $120 per player.
Thus far, Meyer has raised over $21,000 to date with his fundraising efforts.
“I’m a people person and I enjoy helping others,” he said. “It’s very gratifying to be able to help organizations like Special Olympics and the Respite Center by participating or running events to raise money to help their cause.”
To learn more about the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center visit http://hopkintonrespite.com.
To learn more about the Special Olympics visit specialolympicsma.org.
For more information about the Banyan Open or to register call Meyer at 508- 439-0052.