Hole lotta golfing — for a good cause

Golfing marathon to raise awareness for the scourge of ALS

From the links comes word that on July 17 Fairwinds Golf Club pro Brett Standerwick will golf as many holes as possible to raise awareness and funds for ALS.

Fairwinds is one of 40 golf courses located across B.C. participating in the PGA of B.C. Golfathon for ALS presented by uniPHARM and the Medicine Centre Pharmacies Charitable Foundation. Golf pros will golf from sunrise to sunset, non-stop, to raise funds and awareness for ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS ), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects the person’s motor neurons that carry messages to the muscles resulting in weakness and wasting in arms, legs, mouth, throat and elsewhere; typically the person is immobilized or deceased within two to five years of the initial diagnosis. ALS can happen to anyone at anytime.

This is the fifth year Standerwick has stepped up to help the cause.

Last year he did something a little different and raised about $2,000 when he climbed the Golden Hinde, the tallest mountain on Vancouver Island located in Strathcona Park.

“It was three days up and two days down,” he said, explaining how in keeping with the PGA connection he took his golf club with him and hit some biodegradable wooden donor ball off the top of Philips Ridge.

The year before (2010) that he played 156 holes at Fairwinds (8.5 rounds) and raised around $1,500.

“I’m going to try to better that this year — my goal is 10 rounds or 180 holes,” he said easily, adding the big day “is always fun, but it’s a challenge for sure — you have to mentally wrap your head around the day, but it’s something I definitely support.

Tee off time is sunrise (around 6 a.m.).

Anyone interested in sponsoring Brett can contact the Fairwinds golf shop at 250-468-7666.

 

Parksville Qualicum Beach News