CHARITY CLASSIC

Prostate Cancer Centre wins

Twenty years ago, raising funds in support of below-the-belt cancers was not an easy thing to do. Dana Hill and his good friend, the late, great Bill Beattie, saw this challenge as a great opportunity to give back. Beattie and Hill approached colleagues in the home building industry to see if a golf tournament raising funds for prostate cancer research, education and treatment was something of interest. And indeed it was. The inaugural twoday tournament was held at The Links of Glen Eagles and raised an impressive $75,000.

The Priddis Greens Charity Classic, as the tournament is now known, has raised more than $6- million for Calgary’s Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC). The centre does not receive any government funding and relies solely on donor dollars and events such as the Priddis Greens Charity Classic. To say that the tournament is invaluable to the centre would be an understatement indeed.

Picture-perfect weather — albeit smoky as heck — was the perfect backdrop this past week as scores of golfers gathered at Priddis Greens to take part in the 20th-annual Charity Classic. Tuesday evening ’s registration reception and gala featured fabulous food and beverages, a raffle of a trip to Costa Rica, including WestJet airfare, and fantastic live and silent auction items. Auctioneer extraordinaire, Elevate Auctions’ Bill Brown enticed guests to dig deep and bid high. Keynote speaker Winnie Bezemer delivered a wonderful address with the theme “full circle.” Bezemer’s husband Robert participated in the inaugural tournament all those years ago and encouraged his wife to volunteer for the cause which she heartily did — and continues to do. Robert was diagnosed with prostate cancer yet underwent successful surgery last year.

Highlights of the two-day tournament and reception were numerous with one of the top items being the live auction of a private jet to Palm Springs for 8 including four days of golf at the prestigious Big Horn Golf Club in Palm Desert generously donated by Jay Westman.

Kudos to all involved on the enormous success of the tournament and take a well-deserved bow, tournament chair Ross Babcock and gala co-chairs Diana Bon Bernard and Elaine Schmitt. And two thumbs up to invaluable sponsors Morrison Homes and Breckenridge Group.

Other participants included: Volker Stevin’s Kern Briscoe and Mike Festa; Shane Homes’ Cal Wenzel, Shane Wenzel and Dave Rickett; Canyon Plumbing and Heating ’s Bob, Harry, Alex and Jason Chupik; Morrison Homes’ Dave Gladney with Dee Clair; Dr. Bryan Donnelly; PCC executive director Pam Heard with colleagues Linda MacNaughton, Shannon De Vall and Gabriela Dasilveira; PCC board chair, Bennett Jones LLP’s Jon Truswell; Brookfield Residential’s Alan Norris with his wife Shelly Norris; long-time tournament supporters Dennis and Susan Zentner; PCC past board chair Mike Wilson; Dr. Eric Hyndman; Dr. Shelley Spaner; Dr. Charles Metcalfe; the Man Van’s Lauren Kangles, Camille Scheible and Brandi-Lyn Malysh; Hotel Arts Group’s Mark Wilson and Dave Munro; Broadview Homes’ Peter-John Woolf; and others pictured on these two pages.

PHOTOS: BILL BROOKS The Priddis Greens Charity Classic has been an invaluable supporter of Calgary’s Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) for 20 years. The two-day tournament, held this past week, was an enormous success and raised $380,000. Pictured, from left, are tournament chairman Ross Babcock with the PCC executive director Pam Heard and PCC board chair, Bennett Jones LLP’s Jon Truswell. The tournament has raised more than $6 million for the centre since its inception.

From left, Hotel Arts Group’s Mark Wilson with his wife Kerry Wilson and Hotel Arts Group’s Dave Munro.

From left, Prostate Cancer Centre’s (PCC) Linda MacNaughton, Gabriela Dasilveira and Shannon De Vall.

Priddis Greens Charity Classic chairman Ross Babcock, urologist Dr. Bryan Donnelly and long-time tournament volunteer Rick Boyle.

From left, urologist Dr. Eric Hyndman, radiologist Dr. Shelley Spaner and urologist Dr. Charles Metcalfe.

Free PSA testing in the Man Van was a popular option for men over 40 who attended the Priddis Greens Charity Classic. Pictured, from left, are the Man Van’s Lauren Kangles, R.N, Camille Scheible, medical lab assistant, volunteer Ian Matheson and Brandi-Lyn Malysh, medical lab technologist.

From left, Winnie Bezemer, Trish Gurr and Robert Bezemer.

Oakmont Custom Builders’ Darrell Haase and Diane Beattie.

Broadview Homes’ Peter-John Woolf with the Calgary Sun Homes editor Myke Thomas.

Jayman Built’s Jay Westman with PCC past board chairman Mike Wilson.