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Pierce was 9 years old when his father introduced him to golf in the field next door to his home . Working at the Kempsville Meadows Golf Course driving range was his first job . He earned a Sports and Fitness Management degree from Campbell University where he also played on the golf team ( 1987-92 ).
He became a golf professional in 1993 and was elected to PGA membership in 1995 . His path took him to Cypress Point Country Club and then to Stumpy Lake Golf Course . Pierce became head professional at Heron Ridge in 1999 . He was promoted to director of golf for Heron Ridge and Virginia Beach National in 2007 , not long after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis .
MS is incurable . Having it means a lifetime of treatment .
“ I knew something was wrong . I thought I had hurt myself ( helping his parents move ). The next day my feet were like pins and needles . My feet were going numb . I thought I had pulled a muscle or tweaked a nerve ,” he said .
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The numbness worked up his leg to the chest line and down the arms to the hands . They stayed numb , but he didn ’ t lose any strength . He lost some coordination but says it isn ’ t like that anymore .
“ A lot of people who know Glen probably don ’ t even know he has to deal with MS because he ’ s never one to bring it up or use it as an excuse and he hasn ’ t really let it affect how he does his job in the slightest , which is with the utmost integrity and professionalism ,” said MAPGA Section President Andy Weissinger , who was honored as the PGA Professional of the Year .
Pierce says stress related to the acquisition of Virginia Beach National “ is probably what ignited it . Two to three months after that it started to go away . It left some residual feelings . I have some vision issues today ; nothing anybody would notice to look at me .”
When Pierce was diagnosed , there were only four different drug options to help control symptoms of MS . He became involved with the MS Society , served as a board member for the Virginia /
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West Virginia Chapter ( 2013-2018 ). He received Top Fundraiser for Bike MS in the chapter from 2012 through 2022 . Now , there are more than 20 drug options to treat symptoms .
Pierce started his own MS Golf charity event and MS Bike Team charity ride in 2008 and has raised more than $ 800,000 for the MS National Society / Foundation .
“ Glen typifies what a great teaching professional is in terms of being a part of a community . He ’ s not just at the golf course , and he ’ s there a lot , but he ’ s part of his community . He didn ’ t choose it , but the community chose him to be a part of the MS Society . His immediate reaction was ‘ I want to help ’ and he started doing a bunch of fundraisers , the golf tournament and the bike ride ,” MAPGA Executive Director Jon Guhl said .
“ He ’ s been doing it a long time ( 17 years ). That ’ s what the award is for . To recognize he was getting it done on behalf of his community , but it was on the path of his fellow PGA professionals . He was leading by example .”
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COURTESY OF GLEN PIERCE |