The 2006 ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, held at Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, California, in a benefit to raise money for The V Foundation cancer research grants, raised $1.1 million dollars this year.

George Bodenheimer, Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, ESPN and ABC Sports announced this record-setting fundraising total at the event attended by celebrities such as National Basketball Association Hall of Famer Julius Dr. J Erving; National Football League Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator Joe Theismann; actor Haley Joel Osmont; 13-year-old golfing phenom Dakoda Dowd; Olympic skier Bode Miller; Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil; and Hercules TV-series star Kevin Sorbo.

The V Foundation was founded by the late NC State basketball coach ESPN broadcaster Jim Valvano and brother Nick Valvano, with a goal to fund cancer research. In the last five years, the foundation has raised over $50 million dollars -- money that has gone to fund cancer research grants nationwide. The V Foundation is involved in advocacy, education, fundraising and philanthropy.

You can watch the ESPY Golf Classic, which will be featured on ESPN Classic, August 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Dakoda Dowd, a 12-year-old golfing phenom, who has won 185 junior trophies, is the nation's top-ranked golfer in the graduating class of 2011. In the golfing world, all eyes are on this young golfer. Dowd, who began golfing at 4, has the concentration and precision of focus every top-notch athlete must perfect in the sport at which they excel. She has risen to the top in the junior golfing world because of this ability and her golfing talent. 

But for now, Dowd has walked away from golf. Kelly Jo Dowd, her mother, is dying from breast cancer that has spread into her organs and bones. Her mother beat breast cancer the first time around, but it came back with a sinister vengeance. Kelly Jo Dowd, 40, one-time Hooters swimsuit model, is the only woman to climb the restaurant chain's corporate ladder from waitress, to manager, and to general manager. Being competitive and winning is something the members in this family knows how to do. Except right now, her mother is not winning the fight against breast cancer.

In addition to leaving the world of golf, Dakoda has left school and is currently being home schooled, to be able to stay close to her mother. Dakoda, nicknamed “Koda” by her family and friends, dreams of one day playing on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, but for now, she is devoted to being with her mother.