Pro golfer donates custom Broncos bag to children’s hospital MORGAN MODJESKI
A custom-made golf bag commemorating the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that rocked the province of Saskatchewan and the entire country will help support future Saskatchewan families in need.
The green and yellow bag, which was used by professional golfer Alena Sharp during her showing at the CP Women’s Open, was donated to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon this week.
Carrying it offered her some unique perspective, Sharp said.
“I felt honoured carrying it,” she said in a phone call from Portland on Wednesday ahead of the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s Portland Classic.
“It just kind of gave me perspective on the week — how precious life is.”
The golfer from Hamilton has relatives in Saskatoon, so it was important to be able to embrace her Saskatchewan connection and help raise awareness about the crash and its effects, she said.
“Golf is just a game and sometimes we take it so seriously,” she said, noting the Broncos crash provided some perspective on her love of sport and how lucky she is to get to participate, despite the fact that an athlete’s life can be stressful.
A post from the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation’s official Twitter account thanked Sharp for the “meaningful and kind” contribution, calling her thoughtfulness “inspiring.”
As a result of the tournament, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital also received $2 million from the CP Has Heart program. The hospital was the beneficiary of the CP Women’s Open, which had several campaigns running in support of the hospital.
Funds from the CP Women’s Open will now be used to support the new hospital’s pediatric cardiology unit.
The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital is expected to cost $285.2 million. Completion is set for 2019.