Prostate cancer research gets boost
In Calgary, we are lucky to have many annual events that improve with each passing year. Such is the case with this year’s 2013 Priddis Greens Charity Classic, which raised $415,000 in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The 15th annual event took place at the spectacular Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club. Beginning with a fabulous gala evening, the event was a three-day golf extravaganza packed with prizes, gourmet meals and camaraderie on some of the most beautifully maintained greens and fairways in the province.
Guest speaker Andrew Abbott spoke to the group for what many believed was the highlight of the event. Abbott was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 47. He spoke of his experience with prostate cancer, his treatment and his life now living free of the disease. There is little doubt that Abbott’s words played a big part in inspiring the crowd to give generously during the following auction of Fund A Need, which raised an incredible $100,000.
Fund A Need is a program that allows people to donate directly to the Prostate Cancer Centre for its greatest needs programs. Auctioneer Bill Brown of Elevate Auctions got pledges of $1,500 for a phlebotomy chair that allows for Rapid Access blood samples, as well as $10,000 for a nurse for three months to provide one-on-one counselling and support for men undergoing prostate surgery, and even $15,000 for a bladder ultrasound machine.
Last year, one very generous golfer scored a hole-inone and donated his prize (a car!) back to the charity for auction.
This year, event committee member Winnie Bezemer followed suit and donated the raffle prize trip for two to Santa Fe back for auction. That generous offer and some items that were not to be missed — a $10,000 guitar signed by rock legends B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Neil Young, as well as lunch with Calgary’s business rock star Dick Haskayne — pushed up the auction total.
Shane Wenzel of Shane Homes took the Frank Lindsay Award for the golfer with the highest number of points, while The Bill Beattie Memorial Award went to the winning team of Carson Ackroyd, Myke Thomas, Shane Campbell and Wenzel.
Among those in attendance included Dr. Bryan Donnelly, chair of the Prostate Cancer Centre, and Pam Heard, the centre’s executive director.