SASKATOON — Troy Davies wears several hats. If he’s not busy representing the people of Ward 4 on city council, you can find him volunteering at community events such as the annual Synergy 8 Drive for Kids Campaign golf fundraiser.
On Thursday, organizers held the 16th edition of the tournament at the Willows Club in Furdale, with Canadian PGA Tour veteran Corey Conners and Saskatoon-born Hollywood actor Kim Coates — returning for a third year — as special guests. Harvard Media, and its SportsCage and 96.3 Cruz FM, among others sponsored the annual event.
Inviting a PGA Tour player has long been a signature of the event. In recent years, organizers have chosen to feature Canadian professional golfers. Conners arrived fresh from a fourth-place finish in the Tour Championship.
Davies, who has served as Medavie Health Services’ director of public affairs and media relations for more than two decades, is part of Synergy 8’s eight-member board. He is also CEO of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.
He credits a supportive family and colleagues who share his passion for raising funds to support pediatric-related initiatives. The Saskatchewan Air Ambulance pediatric team is this year’s recipient, with plans to upgrade life-saving equipment for children.
“I've got an understanding and lenient wife,” Davies told SaskToday with a laugh. “It has been a great 16 years. All of us on the board have a role, from event planning, ensuring everything is set and securing sponsors. About 80 per cent of our sponsors come back every year.”
"We never imagined this would last 16 years. But here we are, with over $17 million raised, thanks to our sponsors, volunteers and a close-knit planning team. It has evolved into a family affair, where we have our wives and kids also here helping out.”
Davies said the board will meet in December to begin planning for next year’s four-person scramble tournament. Organizers spend thousands of hours preparing for the event, usually held before the end of August.
He also shared the story of 10-year-old Blaze Dunn, who survived a tragic accident two years ago in Carlyle, thanks to the swift response of the Air Ambulance pediatric team.
“The team flew out there and saved Blaze's life. We wanted to focus on them [the pediatric team] to ensure that they have the necessary pediatric equipment upgraded when they fly across the province to treat children,” added Davies.
Over the years, the event has helped fund a portable MRI machine for the children’s hospital, built a mobile health bus with mental health workers serving First Nations communities, and supported the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance, which has served the province for 75 years.
