Putt your best foot forward--the inaugural Samantha Dodaro Golf Classic to benefit Families of SMA is set for today at Jurupa Hills Golf Course in Riverside.

Activities begin at 3:30 a.m.; the 18-hole shotgun scramble begins at 10 a.m.  A buffet lunch will be served about 2:30 p.m.

The tournament is a fund-raiser for FSMA, a volunteer nonprofit organization that funds research needed to find a treatment and/or cure for SMA, the No. 1 genetic killer of children younger than 2.

Samantha Dodaro of Cherry Valley is 1 1/2 years old and has SMA Type 1.  With proceeds from events like this one, researchers hopefully will have enough funds to continue research until they find a drug therapy or cure.  Major breakthroughs in research have already taken place, and some researchers have said they are within a couple of years of finding a drug therapy for SMA.  You can visit Samantha's website at www.our-sma-angels.com/samantha.

Golf fee is $75 and includes green fees, cart and buffet lunch.  Tickets are available at the door.  Jurupa Hills Golf Course is at 6161 Moraga Ave., Riverside.  Call (909) 685-7214.