A family with local ties received a helpful boost last month from the Tower Wolves over-30 and over-45 hockey teams and the overwhelming support of the Estevan community.
Milestone's Sherry Beatty and her twin babies Sophia and Liam were given a cheque for $23,700 late last month thanks to the 144 golfers who took part in the second annual Tower Wolves Charity Golf Classic July 11 at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort. Beatty received the funds to help her family cope with everyday finances after tragically losing her husband, Estevan's Adam Beatty, to a rare liver disease this past January.
Rob Peloquin, a player with the Estevan Tower Wolves over-30 and over-45 hockey teams who organized the annual charity night golf fund-raiser, said they decided to help Sherry because Adam wasn't able to obtain proper insurance when he passed making everyday expenses for the family a burden. He said the goal of the event was to focus on a single person or family who is facing a difficult challenge in their life.
Last summer the Tower Wolves were able to present a $9,000 cheque and a big screen television to the family of Presley Marshall through the money they raised at the first Charity Golf Classic. The initial night golf tournament also helped the hockey-playing philanthropists learn how they could enhance the event to increase their total amount raised in the future.
“Last year we had 27 teams,” said Peloquin, noting they play using glow in the dark golf balls. “This year we went to 36 teams, so we had 144 golfers. Last year we did 18 holes in the dark. This year we changed the format a little bit. We (played) nine holes during the day. We had supper and we had a live auction...and then after we were all done, we went and played nine holes in the dark.”
Peloquin said the addition of the live auction and more golfers taking part is the main reason for the doubling of funds raised this year. The sponsorship of the Charity Golf Classic by the many businesses in Estevan, the help of Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort owner Brad Dutton in the use of the course for the night and the extraordinary contribution by the Tower Cafe's Pete Sereggela for the supper made the event a big success.
He said the Tower Wolves adult recreational hockey teams decided to start the annual charity fund-raiser because they wanted to give back to the community and help out people who are less fortunate and lack the ability to raise more funds on their own.
"We want to make sure we can help some of those unfortunate families that are struggling financially and that don't have the resources to do fund raising," said Peloquin. "The Tower Wolves would like to thank all our sponsors and all the golfers who support this event."
