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Sports legends, golfers help support N.Y. addiction recovery center

All proceeds from the golf outing will go towards Villa Veritas, an upstate New York inpatient recovery center.
PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO  |  All proceeds from the golf outing will go towards Villa Veritas, an upstate New York inpatient recovery center.

Two members of the 1969 “Miracle” Mets, former football players and boxers helped raise funds for an upstate New York inpatient alcohol and drug addiction recovery center Thursday afternoon.

The Fourth Annual Mainstream House Golf Outing at Cherry Creek Golf Course, which featured more than 100 golfers, was organized by Bobby Hartmann, who runs the Mainstream House recovery center. Mr. Hartmann, who is in his 12th year of recovery, gives all of the proceeds from the golf outing to the Villa Veritas Foundation, which he and many others have used to help fight their addictions.

“Since then I’ve felt a debt of gratitude,” he said. “That’s why I do all this … They’ve touched a lot of lives.”

Mr. Hartmann said many of those in attendance had recovered at the Villa Veritas center. Ken Lavery, a clinical coordinator for the center, said seeing former patients years later, still clean, is among the best parts of the outing.

Several sports stars attended the fundraiser, including Ed Kranepool, the Met’s second all-time hits leader. Former Met and Long Island Ducks owner Bud Harrelson attended along with boxer Gerry Cooney, former Jets football players Greg Buttle and Rich Caster.

“It’s a good cause, good people,” Mr. Kranepool said. “We’re just trying to raise awareness of this issue.”

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