Hucking it for a good cause
P.E.I. man organizing disc golf fundraiser in memory of father who died of cancer
SPRINGHILL, P.E.I. – When Anthony Millar thinks of his father, Erland, he remembers how eager he was to volunteer.
Throughout his life, Erland coached minor hockey and baseball and was a constant in the community.
“Anything I was involved in, if I wanted to play disc golf, he’d join me,” said Millar. “If I was doing a fundraiser, he was always coming with me.”
Erland died from cancer on April 26, 2023 – but his generous spirit lives on in his son.
For the second year in a row, Millar is hosting a disc golf event at Huck It Disc Golf Course in Middleton, aiming to raise money for the O'leary Community Hospital Foundation.
“It’s called Huck It, and I know people tend to use the word ‘F cancer,’ so why don’t I call it ‘Huck Cancer,’” said Millar. “It’s just … about getting people to play disc golf and learn about the sport, and as a way to go against cancer.”
A NEW FUNDRAISER
While his father was in the palliative care unit of O’leary’s Community Hospital, Millar remarked that the staff could not have done a better job. But some of the comfort equipment, like the room’s small television, left a lot to be desired.
“So, we thought, maybe if we did something for the hospital as a thank you, we could purchase new TVS for the unit,” said Millar.
Millar has been a disc golf player for the last four years and decided to put his hobby to work for a good cause.
From opening until close on April 23, 2023, at Huck It, Millar was there, accepting donations and throwing a disc around with anyone who showed.
Close to 100 people showed up and Millar raised more than $2,200 – enough to buy four new televisions for the hospital.
“It was just nice. There were a lot of friends and family who just came out to do something nice for my dad and to the hospital,” said Millar.
“It is a nice facility in the area, and a lot of West Prince people use it.”
His father, who died a few days after the inaugural event, was proud; he was even the first signature on a frisbee commemorating the fundraiser.
“He was pretty excited to know that everything went well enough to buy the TVS,” said Millar. “He was declining, but he was still in the now, and still talking and stuff like that.”
CONTINUING THE EVENT
Millar had only planned for the event to be a one-time thing, but when the hospital foundation reached out to him and asked if he would be interested in doing it again this year, he didn’t hesitate to say yes.
This time, Millar is aiming to raise $5,000 for the hospital – and hopes to see attendance double.
“What they’re looking at is moving two acute room beds into two palliative stand-by rooms,” said Millar. “Which means they need to purchase TVS, furniture, things like that, so that families can be comfortable in there.”
In addition to the disc golf event, Millar has also received donations to raffle off to help meet his target. Items include gift cards and merchandise for local businesses like Valley Pearl Oyster, Backwoods Burger and Island Disc Golf Company.
Nick Gallant has been friends with Millar for years and knew about Millar’s father, and his desire to give back.
“He posted and he talked amongst our group chat, trying to give us a heads up about what he was doing,” said Gallant. “So, we tried to do as much as we could to try to help out, too.”
Gallant was likewise excited to hear that the event was not a one-and-done.
“I think everybody has dealt with a loss due to cancer,” he said, “so if there’s something we can do to make other families’ (experiences) a little bit easier and do our thing at the same time, we’re glad to help.”
He hopes to stick around a little longer than he was able to last year and enjoy a few rounds.
Millar now hopes to make Huck Cancer a regular event.
“It’s something that I would consider continuing on for years to come, as a yearly event,” said Millar.
“Whether it’s for O’leary palliative care, or for hospice… anything that can help palliative care patients going through their lives.”
This year’s Huck Cancer fundraiser takes place at Huck It Disc Golf Course on April 28, from open until close.