YORKTON — A Yorkton-area golf tournament has raised $18,000 for the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan to support upgrades to the oncology program at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
Organizer Alec Zawatsky said the fundraiser was held in honour of his grandmother, Cathy Zawatsky.
“It was a great day and we’re doing it in honour of my grandmother,” Zawatsky said. “They always took such good care of her and my grandpa at the Yorkton hospital, so I’m forever grateful we could help them out.”
“We have such a good support system and community out at Good Spirit Lake and then Yorkton and the Parkland area. Everyone was amazing,” he added.” Just forever grateful for those people and coming out. It was just such a great day and such a special event.”
The money was raised through the second annual AZ Golf Tournament at Good Spirit Lake, which drew 144 golfers this summer — nearly double the 80 who played in the inaugural event.
Ross Fisher, executive director of the Health Foundation, said the donation will support the hospital’s expanded oncology unit, which is moving from the third floor to the first.
“Most of the renovations are done, but there’s still equipment to buy,” Fisher said. “This kind of support is a boon to us, because we don’t receive government funding for this work. Donations like Alec’s make a big difference.”
Fisher said contributions like this make a lasting impact.
“We really appreciate when community organizations or people organize fundraisers because they’re doing it because they care,” he said. “Often with something like cancer, it’s because there’s a personal connection, like was the case with Alec here. They just did such a tremendous job.”
The event was organized in partnership with Braden Ottenbrait’s Close Cuts for Cancer. Co-chair Greg Ottenbreit said it was significant given the family’s history.
“Alec just wanted to do something to honour his grandmother’s fight and memory,” Ottenbreit said. “This donation is going to make a real impact for cancer treatment here in east-central Saskatchewan.”
Zawatsky says the tournament will now be an annual tradition, with plans to expand it next year
