The Bryan Mudryk Golf Classic’s 10th anniversary event shattered all expectations last weekend.
In the weeks and months leading up to the event, organizer Terry Mudryk had her sights set on breaking the $150,000 fundraising mark. But she didn’t get her wish; she got much more.
“All I can say right now is that we’re over the $200,000 mark,” said an exhausted (but thrilled) Mudryk on Sunday, the day after the golf tournament and dinner and dance flooded Boyle with supporters and luminaries of the sports world.
That money, combined with the matching that the federal and provincial governments as well as the business sector will do, will go a long way towards the purchase of a Linac MR for the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. And with funds still rolling in, the final tally is yet to be determined.
What is certain is that everyone who came out to the Skeleton Lake Golf Club (and later, the Boyle Community Centre) enjoyed a great day.
“We had so many compliments. Everyone really worked hard to make it special,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without everybody’s participation.”
Just as thrilled with the event’s remarkable outcome was Bryan Mudryk himself, who remains very passionate about helping the facility where he was once treated for cancer. The knowledge that he and his family, friends and community have raised close to $1 million over the 10-year existence of the event is more than satisfying.
“It’s pretty emotional. It’s just overwhelming,” he said.
“I think of all my friends and family and support system. Everyone is coming together to do something pretty spectacular. There are no words, really.”
There were plenty of words during the event, during which Mudryk and his celebrity guests took turns delighting the assembled golfers and diners with their wit and enthusiasm.
But no words had the impact of those spoken by the winners of the event’s annual scholarships, given out to post-secondary students who are currently battling cancer or who have recently overcome their battle.
Their tales of their struggles with the disease made an already emotional event even moreso for all those in attendance, and certainly for Mudryk himself, who knew exactly what they were going through.
“You see these young people, who are so brave, to hear their stories, their fight, it’s so inspiring. It just makes it worthwhile,” he said.
The money raised by this year’s event will be given to the Cross later this summer. But the memories of the event (and the nine before it) will surpass any dollar amount.
“It’s about the friendships, the people that come together for one cause,” said Terry.
“I think I can sum it up; no words can say what the heart speaks.”
