Children’s Charity Golf Classic raises over $17,000 for Stollery’s Children Hospital

Image credit: Mark Reid.

The 9th annual Children’s Charity Golf Classic was another success.

Golf tournament organizer Mark Reid said they raised at least $17,500.

“It’s kind of a community staple. Now everyone knows we’re going to do it. We get lots of support and those kind of things. So it’s great.

“I guess we’ll continue to do it as long as I can,” said Reid.

One hundred and thirty golfers enjoyed a day on the links, a steak supper, banquet, raffle prizes, silent auction items, and live auction.

The golf tournament started after Reid’s daughter Kennedy who suffers from Costello Syndrome starting visiting the Stollery Children’s Hospital. It was their way to pay it forward after they met the man who sponsored the wish for Kennedy.

“We really recognize that it’s pretty important to like a lot of kids in this area. So we chose the hospital, the Stollery, to do the fundraiser for in the beginning. And I guess the reason why we did it right off the start was Kennedy had her wish granted through the Children’s Wish Foundation in 2011,” said Reid.

“I’m willing to bet you that 75 per cent of the people we have gone in the tournament have some connection to it, whether it’s a grandchild, a child, a niece, nephew, a friend’s kid or something that uses that hospital, right.”

“This year alone, there was a representative that came out from the Stollery and did a presentation at our golf tournament. He had it broken down and I think it’s 230 patient visits were from this area at the Stollery last year.

While golfers move from hole to hole, Kennedy walks around the course and hands out cookies and bows, a tournament trademark.

“She used to wear all the time when she was younger, so we still have those bows. And there are people that come there every year and have like six or seven bows on her hands from previous years and stuff,” said Reid.

The Children’s Charity Golf Classic thanks Yum’s the Word, Nancy Proctor for donating the steaks, Kelly Woods from Woods Driving School for sponsoring a $10,000 hole in one, and S & T Energy Services Ltd. and Enerchem International INC, for sponsoring food holes.

They also thank Canadian Fabrication, L & D Marine Rentals Ltd., and Seven Lakes Oilfield Services for their donations to the silent auction.

The tournament has raised $180,000 in nine years.

“We’re gonna try to make it a big deal next year, a bigger deal than normal, because it’s our 10th anniversary. I’m obviously gonna push a little harder and get a little more, hopefully hit that $200,000 range.”