The Hon. Jeff Johnson's 4th Annual Road to Hope Golf Classic held at the Athabasca Golf & Country Club Sept. 4 was a resounding success.
All proceeds went to the Road to Hope Community Support Foundation, a nonprofit that organizes transportation for local cancer patients who need to get to treatments outside their home community.
According to organizers, 124 participants took part (compared to fewer than 90 last year), including a number of public figures.
They included Jeff Johnson, Education Minister and MLA for Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater; David Dorward, MLA for Edmonton-Gold Bar; John Short, acting chair of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation; Wayne Drysdale, Infrastructure Minister and MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti; Ken Hughes, Minister of Energy and MLA for Calgary-West; and Dave Rodney, Associate Minister of Wellness and MLA for Calgary-Lougheed.
"There is incredible inspiration, and it's about neighbours helping neighbours," said Johnson, speaking to attendees after a post-tournament barbeque.
"Don't underestimate the little things you do, like coming to an event like this and contributing to it, and taking some time to volunteer — even making somebody aware of this great charity," said Johnson.
"We're going to change somebody's life, and (Road to Hope transportation coordinator) Madena (Reimer) has been leading the charge to do that for many others," said the MLA.
Road to Hope was founded by Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries (Al-Pac) about eight years ago, and a number of Al-Pac executives turned out to show their support for the foundation last weekend, including president Al Ward and director of business and public affairs Mike Voisin.
"I think it's amazing," said Ward, who said a new ad campaign may have helped draw more support this year. "It's a big deal for a lot of people.”
Al-Pac "wanted to get behind something where there was a high community need, and we recognized … the high incidence of cancer and the need for people to travel for treatment, and the lack of infrastructure needs around that," said Voisin.
"I've been involved in lots of voluntary organizations in my life, and I've never seen one that's so focused on such a specific need in a rural community," said Hughes, recognizing the sizable turnout, including people from around the province.
A number of Athabasca County councillors also attended, including councillors Mike Demko and Denis Willcott.
"I think it was awesome. It was amazing," said Reimer. She said the proceeds will help with Road to Hope’s operational and promotional costs.
"It was tremendous," said Road to Hope president Jan Overacker, recognizing a 40 per cent increase in turnout over last year.
"It shows there is a lot more support in the community, and we are becoming known now," said Overacker. "It was hard to get people to be aware of us.”
The goal was to raise a net total of $9,000 but the result of the community's generosity was $29,235 in sponsorship, plus an additional $6,257 at the tournament for a gross total of $35,492.
A net total of funds raised was not available as of press time.
The most honest score went to a team representing Athabasca's Servus Credit Union, which shot +24 and was made up of Sara Graling, Louise Jewell, Cynthia Christiansen and Nancy Shilling.
The winning team, with a score of -14, represented Rose Country Advertising & Public Relations from Edmonton and included Brian Stecyk, Ken Philip, Steve Robson and John McNichol.
The team originally included former premier Ed Stelmach, who had to cancel "because of harvest" according to Stecyk, so Robson filled in.
"We were all amazed at the beauty and quality of the golf course and the exceptional reception we got from the hosts and volunteers," said Stecyk in a written statement. "It was one of the best tournaments we have ever attended.”
