Great weekend of special events
There are 21 great reasons to party at the Penticton Golf & Country Club this Friday and Saturday. This marks the 21st year of the Peach City Tees Up for Cancer ladies charity golf tournament – all in aid of Penticton Regional Hospital.
Based around a theme of “21” a group of 96 golfers (24 teams) will be playing some not-so-serious golf, while raising money for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s campaign to supply the medical equipment for the new David E. Kampe tower at PRH. Tees Up is committed to raising $150,000 over five years.
Debi Davidson, chair of the Tees Up organizing committee, says even though this money is not directly going to cancer treatment, there’s still a close link. Tees Up has received government approval to have its name connected with a Patient Lounge, Patient-Family conference space, and education/research space.
“Our theme for 21 years has been “Tees Up for Cancer”. Now it’s “Tees Up for the Tower” and people are wondering if we’re not donating to cancer anymore,” she said. “Yes, we are. We will have naming rights on three different rooms – hopefully close to people who are succeeding in their battle against this brutal disease.”
After a practise round on Friday there’s a shotgun start Saturday at 1 p.m. Penticton’s LPGA tour professional A.J. Eathorne will be on hand again this year, and will emcee the Saturday dinner and live auction. Many thanks to Tees Up – and have fun!
Another big event this weekend is the third annual Great Ogopogo Bathtub Race at Powell Beach in Trout Creek. Hosted by the Summerland Yacht Club on Saturday, activities begin with a pancake breakfast in the park from 8-9:30 a.m. Racing gets underway with home-built bathtubs at 11 a.m., followed by “performance” tubs at 12:30 p.m. and high-powered craft from the famous Nanaimo bathtub race at 1:30 p.m. In total, more than 22 entries will be involved.
This is very much a family event, including a children’s play area and concession stand. Racing wraps up at 3 p.m. with an awards banquet Saturday night at the Summerland Yacht Club. Proceeds go to the SOS Medical Foundation’s PRH tower campaign. Hope to see you there!
Another big fundraiser will be held on August 28. EllisDon Infrastructure, the province’s private sector “P3” partner in the PRH expansion project, hosts a charity golf tournament at the Penticton Golf & Country Club. I understand a foursome from the SOS Medical Foundation’s board of directors is considered to be the early odds-on favourites (at least, until their opening tee shots!). Again, proceeds go towards the PRH tower campaign. Our thanks to everyone involved.
Received a note from South Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Canning’s office. As part of his second annual “Ride the Riding” cycling tour from Aug. 22-30, our MP will be hosting a community barbecue in Skaha Lake Park on Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 5-7 p.m. All donated proceeds go to SOS Medical Foundation’s campaign.
Anyone driving down Government Street these days can’t help but notice how rapidly construction is progressing on the new tower. The exterior shell of the six-storey building is due to be complete within the next few months. Work on the interior will continue throughout 2018, with the new tower to be ready for patients in early 2019. Check out our website for a live webcam view of the construction activity.
Meanwhile, we are now approaching the $14-million mark in the Medical Foundation’s $20-million fundraising campaign. We appreciate everyone’s generous support.
John Moorhouse is the development and communications officer for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. For information on donating, please call 250-492-9027 or visit sosmedicalfoundation.com.