Children’s Charity Golf Classic hits highest fundraising total

It was another record breaking year for an annual golf fundraiser in Bonnyville.

The Children’s Charity Golf Classic took place at the Bonnyville Golf & Country Club with 135 participants raising money for the Stollery’s Children Hospital in Edmonton. 

Mark Reid has been doing this event annually now for 11 years, but they’ve never raised more in a single year than in 2023 with roughly $31,000 going towards the hospital.

“The first few years it was okay, they’re just doing a fundraiser type thing. I think it’s there now as a staple and you know, people realize we’re putting the effort in. And obviously, we’re seeing the results from it,” Reid told Lakeland Connect. 

What started as recognition for one of the most crucial kid’s hospitals in the province, has morphed into an event that the Bonnyville and area has rallied around.

Many golfers have kept their bows, a trademark symbol of the event, similar to the ones Reid’s daughter Kennedy would wear when she was younger.

They’ve now totalled $233,000 this the genesis of the event, originally inspired by Kennedy having her wish granted by the Children’s Wish Foundation.

With roughly 15 volunteers helping from early in the morning, golfers teed off at 1:00pm. In the evening, was their banquet with silent auction.

Amongst the major contributions, was a $5000 cheque from Pimee Well Servicing, on behalf on an employee whose granddaughter had an organ transplant done at the Stollery.

At the auction, Kudo Energy donated a steak barbecue at the auction winner’s house for 30 people with everything included, even alcohol. That experience sold fpr $3,500. 

Lance Resel donated a full day of fishing on Cold Lake in his boat. It was a downrigger fishing experience for lakers with him supplying beverages, lunch of their choice, and trip to the beach and a barbecue for four people. That brought in another $3,700. 

Those two items were all spur of the moment during the auction and Reid said it was quite special to see.

“When those kinds of things happen, and like I’ve been doing this for quite a while, those are moments…that’s the reason you do it,” he said. 

Reid thanked all the sponsors and everyone who donated for making it yet another successful tournament.

As he always says, the Stollery is more local than you think.

“People don’t realize how many patients you know from our area use that hospital.

“We see the need to make the awareness. It’s not that our children are going to get better treatment because we support it, it’s making the awareness in local communities to say that, hey, this is a place that a lot of our kids go to and they are in need. It’s putting that awareness out there.” 

Meanwhile, Kennedy recently had her tenth operation at the Stollery in March. She has been recovering well thus far.