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What began as a enjoyable household gathering on the golf course has now raised 1000’s of {dollars} for pediatric most cancers analysis.
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Grandkids for Pediatric Most cancers Analysis Golf Match, organized by Patricia Bechard and her household, started in 2022.
Held on the Nation Aspect Golf Membership, situated simply south of Sherwood Park, this yr’s match held in June introduced in additional than $41,000, and all of it going on to the College of Alberta’s pediatric most cancers analysis program. The funds help the work of these like Dr. Sunil Desa, who attended the occasion.
“We wished to do one thing, and we have been going to do some household match. Then one way or the other it grew larger, and we concerned the college in it,” defined Bechard.
Bechard mentioned the native homeowners of the 10-course course have been enthusiastic when approached in regards to the fundraising match which incorporates {golfing} in addition to a dinner and silent public sale.
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“We wish the group to be concerned and be behind it,” she mentioned.
With main native sponsors like 4 Seasons Tools and SUMMIT at Silent Ice the occasion has expanded since its inaugural tee off, and this yr the occasion welcomed 72 golfers to the course, 16 of whom have been youngsters.
“It’s the one match in Alberta the place youngsters can go together with their dads, mothers, grandparents, whoever, they usually find it irresistible,” Bechard mentioned. “They’re serving to to boost cash for their very own most cancers analysis.”
A lot of the kids on the course are required to be older than 10 years of age with some expertise below their belt, however Bechard mentioned there have been exceptions made, particularly within the case of native younger golfer, Bentley, who began competing on the match at simply five-years-old and, now six, went on to win two prizes at this yr’s occasion.
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Not like the common golf sport, the contributors of the Grandkids for Pediatric Most cancers Analysis Golf Match needed to full some unconventional challenges alongside their route. A enjoyable combination of mini golf and conventional golf all within the title of serving to youngsters.
“There’s a little bit of a problem for everyone. We’ve got all these enjoyable issues they should do. For instance, at gap one they tee off with a marshmallow,” defined Bechard.
Elevating cash for most cancers analysis is nothing new to members of the Bechard household although, because the matriarch of the household defined that one among her son’s has raised over $100,000 for prostate most cancers and her grandson raised round $15,000 for the Stollery Youngsters’s Hospital by means of his lemonade stand. The household has additionally raised $25,000 for pancreatic most cancers analysis in honour of a good friend who died from the sickness. And similar to their option to help pancreatic most cancers, pediatric most cancers too has a hyperlink to the household.
“We do personally know a good friend whose grandson died of the identical most cancers as Ben Stelter,” mentioned Bechard.
Stelter died in August of 2022 from glioblastoma on the age of six after making a reputation for himself as an Edmonton Oilers superfan.
With plans already underway for the 2025 occasion, these fascinated about donating to pediatric most cancers analysis by means of Grandkids for Pediatric Most cancers Analysis Fund can contact her at bechard@shaw.ca
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