ATHABASCA -One of Athabasca’s most popular golf traditions is back, bringing together dozens of players in support of a cause that helps neighbours facing cancer.
Athabasca golfers are getting ready to tee off at the Athabasca Golf and Country Club after the Labour Day weekend.
The 15th annual tournament, which will take place on Sept. 4, has become a staple in the town of Athabasca and is put on by Road to Hope, an organization founded in 2008.
Jessica Wallace, the coordinator of Road to Hope, said the organization relies on the community to keep serving those in need.
“I’ve heard everyone just looks forward to it every year. It’s become a staple in the Athabasca golf course tournament lineup, and we couldn’t do any of it without the community and volunteers. We are nothing without the community,” said Wallace.xr
The organization provides free transportation services for cancer patients in the Athabasca and Lac La Biche counties. This ensures patients can attend necessary appointments without having to deal with the stress of transportation.
Wallace said this is the biggest fundraiser they have, and the money raised offsets the expenses for the rides.
“Our drivers are able to submit mileage claims. There are a few who donate it back to the foundation or don’t even submit expenses,” said Wallace.
“It’s there as an incentive perk for them to thank them for what they do.”
The tournament will be a Texas scramble format with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Everyone is placed in foursomes with all ages invited to play. Last year, the tournament sold out at 144 golfers.
Along with the Athabasca tournament, Road to Hope had its second annual Spring Scramble golf tournament in Lac La Biche, which raised over $10,000 for the foundation.
“We used to do something called Run for Hope in Lac La Biche. We would do that in the spring every year and it was similar to the Terry Fox Run,” said Wallace.
“We were just finding that it wasn’t really growing, and it wasn’t helping to spread awareness the way we wanted it to. With success with the golf tournament in Athabasca, the board decided to try a golf tournament in Lac La Biche.”
The inaugural Spring Scramble in Lac La Biche in June 2024 brought in $10,000, enough to fund roughly 37 patient trips. The second annual Spring Scramble followed on June 26, 2025, at the Lac La Biche Golf & Country Club, continuing the event’s early success.
