It's entering into its 12th year and organizers are hoping it will once again be a huge success.
The 12th Annual Charity Golf Classic for Health is slated for this coming June, an opportunity for residents to get out for a great day of golf while raising funds for an excellent cause.
"We have two goals for this tournament," says Jerry Jemieff, chair of the 2011 event. "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."
Proceeds from the annual event are presented to The Health Foundation to help purchase needed medical equipment.
"In the 11 years of the Charity Golf Classic, $730,000 has been raised and used to purchase medical equipment. Last year the golfers did an amazing job raising $120,188, which was the second highest amount of money we've ever raised. That's an average of $834 raised by each golfer. This is two years in a row that we've raised over $120,000 and we hope the trend continues," adds Jemieff.
As an incentive CAA Travel Saskatchewan and additional sponsors are helping out by offering an array of great prizes and trips again this year.
First prize this year, which goes to the golfer raising the most money, is a seven day Caribbean cruise for two with Holland America. Airfare from Regina is included and the cabin will have an ocean view. Second prize is a four day trip to for two to Las Vegas or a $1,200 travel voucher, and third prize is a $600 travel voucher.
"CAA Travel Saskatchewan has provided the top prizes to the golfers raising the most money for the last 10 years, and we are very pleased to continue sponsoring the main prizes," says 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 prizes 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 means 100 per cent 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," details 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."
Again this year it's anticipated there will be 144 golfers from all over this region will take part, collecting pledges and raising money.
Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation adds "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 it buys a piece of equipment 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," concludes Jemieff.
The event takes place Thursday, June 9 with an 11 a.m. Shotgun Start at Good Spirit Lake Golf and Family Resort.
To learn more or to get involved call 786-0506 or visit: www.TheHealthFoundation.ca.
