Golf tournament offers hope
A new charity golf event is raising funds to help families go From Hardship to Hope.
On September 29, Hospitality New Zealand Taranaki holds its first annual charity golf tournament at the Fitzroy Golf Club and the funds raised will go to help children and families facing urgent needs during hospital stays.
The hospitality organisation’s vicepresident, Brett Brennen, says the tournament will raise funds and offer vouchers to the Taranaki Health Foundation charity for an array of services, including accommodation stays, meals at cafes or restaurants and even haircuts.
Brennen learnt about From Hardship to Hope during a New Year’s Eve charity event at the Nice Hotel. ‘‘It just resonated with me because it’s so grass roots. It’s about families being helped when they really need help.’’
Health foundation general manager Bry Kopu says the fund aims to strengthen Taranaki families throughout their children’s medical journeys, ensuring they are better placed to cope and help their children heal.
When children are in hospital, things can happen fast. ‘‘Some families only get two hours’ notice that they have to go to Starship.’’
Then they must arrange travel, accommodation and maybe care for other children and some simply don’t have the budget to cover extras.
‘‘They meet with a social worker to problem solve things that they need,’’ Kopu says. ‘‘It’s very responsive to immediate needs.’’
She says the foundation is extremely grateful that the hospitality sector of Taranaki has decided to support the cause. The golf tournament will make huge impact on what From Hardship to Hope can offer families in need.
Brennen says $15 of the $25 playing fee for the 18-hole Ambrose tournament will go to the charity and there are cash sponsors for different tees and Marsh Insurance is offering a $20,000 spending spree in Taranaki for a hole in one on a specific hole.
There will be a whole lot of other prizes on the day, including closest to pin and longest drive.
While this is the hospitality organisation’s first charity golf tournament, the owner of Ducks and Drakes Boutique Motel and Backpackers says it will be an annual event supporting a different cause each year.
But this time, it’s about helping families during a crisis. ’’We just want to bring a little bit of light to what is otherwise a difficult time for these families. It made so much sense.’’