A cart with equipment and medication for children with respiratory problems was put together two months ago at Austin Medical Center.

But two important -- and expensive -- pieces of equipment were missing. A fiberoptic laryngoscope, a device allows doctors to see down the throat, and an apnea monitor, which tracks potential breathing problems in children.

AMC had a pediatric laryngoscope, but it was harder to see down throats without the fiberoptic lighting. Its apnea monitor was breaking down, so much so, the hospital had to rent one from the Twin Cities. It would take three or four days to arrive.

But with the help of the Potach family, the cart is now complete. AMC was able to buy the equipment, which totaled about $4,200, with donations from the Karl R. Potach Foundation.

"It's really nice," said Linda Marsh, nurse manager in the Medical, Surgical, Pediatric unit at AMC. "We really do appreciate it."

Kurt and Brenda Potach and their friends Lance and Snow Pogones visited AMC Thursday to see what the hospital had purchased.

Marsh explained that the new laryngoscope had better lighting than the one they currently used. The device is used to check children for respiratory problems and comes in different sizes to fit different age groups.

The apnea monitor is used to check breathing habits. Parents might bring their baby in to make sure the baby is breathing properly while sleeping.

"I think they're great if it's what they needed," Brenda Potach said of the new equipment.

The Karl Potach Foundation started in 1998 after Brenda and Kurt's son Karl died of a rare form of cancer at 4 years old in 1997. Since then, the Potaches have held the Karl Potach Memorial Golf Tournament each year to raise money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund, Austin Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic.

This is the sixth year of the Karl Tourney, which will be held Aug. 25 at the Austin Country Club. In the last five years, the benefit has raised $75,000, $45,000 of which has been donated to the Children's Cancer Research Fund. The family also delivers backpacks filled with markers, paper, crayons and other treats to pediatric units at hospitals. They donated an aquarium for the pediatric unit at AMC in 2000.

At this year's tournament, they also will be raising money for a children's cancer research project at the Mayo Clinic.

For more information on this year's Karl Tourney, call Lance Pogones at Games People Play at 433-7593 or visit the Karl R. Potach Foundation Web site at www.karlpotachfoundation.com.