Charity golf fundraiser planned

The 13th Annual Charity Golf Classic for Health will be held on Thursday, June 7 at the Good Spirit Lake Golf and Family Resort, with an 11 a.m. shotgun start.

"We have two goals for this tournament. The first is to put on a premiere golf event, one of the best in Saskatchewan. The second is to raise funds to help our medical professionals provide the best possible healthcare to our families, friends and neighbours here in east central Saskatchewan" stated Jerry Jemieff, chair of the 2012 Charity Golf Classic organizing committee. "This is the 13th year for this tournament. It is a very good tournament, the players and the sponsors like the way it is run so we aren't planning any big changes - just a few little extra's to add a little more fun into the day," added Jemieff.

"In the 12 years of the Charity Golf Classic, $830,000 has been raised and used to purchase medical equipment. Last year the golfers did an amazing job raising over $100,000 which was the second highest amount of money we've ever raised. That's an average of almost $700 raised by each golfer," said Mr. Jemieff.

As a bit of an incentive CAA Travel Saskatchewan and our sponsors are helping us offer great prizes and trips again this year. First prize this year, which goes to the golfer raising the most money, is a 7-day all-inclusive vacation in Cuba for two. Our winner will have a choice of many locations: from Havana or Cayo Santa Maria, Holguin or Varadero. Air from Regina is included.

"CAA Travel Saskatchewan has donated the top prize to the golfer raising the most money for the last 10 years, and we are very pleased to continue sponsoring the main prize," said Linda Koroluk, Manager of CAA Travel in Yorkton. "This is a great tournament; all the proceeds are used to buy new medical equipment and if we can encourage the golfers to compete and try to raise more funds in order to win the great prize that we provide - that's wonderful. The real winners are the residents of our area who will have good equipment in our healthcare facilities."

Sponsorship covers the entire cost of the tournament and the prizes, which mean 100% of the money golfers' raise goes toward medical equipment or items for patient care and comfort. The Charity Golf Classic buys something for every healthcare facility in the Sunrise Health Region.

"The Charity Golf Classic organizing committee is made up primarily of volunteers from the Presenting Sponsors," said Jerry Jemieff, "and I would like to recognize and thank our presenting sponsors: Mosaic Potash Esterhazy, SaskTel, LDM Foods Ltd., and the Credit Unions of East Central Saskatchewan."

"This year again, there will be 144 golfers from all over this region collecting pledges and raising money for healthcare in our local communities. We ask everyone to once again support the golfers who will be seeking pledges. 100% of the money pledged to golfers will be invested in needed equipment."

Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation added "Last year 1,701 individuals made pledges to golfers. That is a huge number of people participating in one event. The Charity Golf Classic is unlike many of the projects The Health Foundation takes on in that it doesn't raise money for a major piece of equipment. Instead we buy something for each facility in the health region. That might be a hospital bed, or a vital signs monitor, or a blood analyzer. Someone you know, in your own community, is likely to use a piece of medical equipment this golf tournament buys before the end of the year."

"We think the fact the money goes right back into our local communities helps people connect with how the Charity Golf Classic is very much regional, and very much about people. We hope that will help people to be generous again this year when a golfer approaches them for a pledge," finished Mr. Jemieff.