By David Benoit
Special to the Reporter

On September 16 a Dorchester family will take its turn in the battle against cancer, honoring their father, Eddie Ahern, with a golf tournament to benefit the Jimmy Fund.

"If he was going to fight we were going to fight with him," says Maureen Ahern Kiely, the oldest of the Ahern children and co-organizer of the golf tournament. "So that is why we decided to put together this tournament. Every day people are touched by cancer in one way or another, we all know too many people that are affected by it."

The Tee Time for the Tiger Tournament will be held at the South Shore Country Club in an effort to raise funds for the Dana Farber Institute. Ahern is a lifetime union carpenter in Dorchester, raising his family in St. Peter's Parish. He retired in 2004 and was about to begin retired life with his wife, family, and grandchildren. Instead he has spent the last few years fighting esophageal cancer and undergoing numerous operations. His children credit his personality and hard-working lifestyle for his continued ability to fight a battle many would have already lost. It's why some call him The Tiger.

"I think anything that my father put his mind to do he did," says Karen Ahern Stalcup, the youngest child. "He was awesome growing up for the five of us."

It was that experience of growing up in Dorchester that led the Aherns to put together the tournament. They had learned long ago that the people of their hometown had a special connection.

"Whenever we have ever reached out for them, and not only in this case, they have responded as a community," says Trysha Ahern. "We can go back and say that we need something from our friends in this community, and we know they will rally back with us in Dorchester."

Mike Ahern is the oldest boy in the family, and has followed in his father's footsteps, running his own contracting company in Dorchester. Everywhere he goes, he finds people asking about his father.

"They've all been very supportive, everyone that knows him. I can't go a day without someone asking me how is he. I can't go to the pub without someone that knows him asking how he is doing."

They hope that this support and connection will make the golf tournament a special day for the family, and an important day for the Jimmy Fund.

The tournament will feature former Red Sox star Rico Petrocelli and WEEI radio host John Dennis. They are looking to raise upwards of $15,000 to give to the researchers who will one day hopefully prevent the pain their dad goes through every day.

"The goal, for us, is to make people aware of what is going on with my dad and what this is," says Mike. "It's a very prevalent thing, and this is a problem that people have to start looking out for now."

Their battle started two years ago, and they know that cancer is something that is fought by many, but if they can help one family like theirs, they will have succeeded.

"He doesn't want to be the center of attention, but he'll be happy if they can find other ways of treating people so they don't have to go through what he has gone through," says Karen of her father.

Those wishing to donate to the Tee Time for the Tiger Tournament should visit the website tournevents.com/TeeTimeForTheTiger.