Souvenir bags becoming gift of compassionate travel
Golfers forego cost of bags to help cancer patients
AMHERST, NS (July 20, 2011) – The Cumberland Health Care Foundation is hoping that this year’s 16th annual Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament will highlight the charitable good-will of its golf supporters.
“When teams are registering this year they have the option of foregoing the traditional souvenir items that are received at most charity tournaments,” said David Wood, Honorary Chair of this year’s tournament, “instead they’re allowing us to put the value of those items towards helping a cancer patient in Cumberland through our Cancer Assistance Fund.”
Generally proceeds from the regional hospital foundation’s charity tournament are used to support a variety of programs such as the county-wide hospital and healthcare volunteer program, the hospital patient healing garden, and medical equipment. “Because it is an unrestricted fundraiser, we are able to direct the monies raised where they are most needed, when most needed,” continued Wood, “however, we normally partially restrict a portion of monies raised through some activity at the event for one of our programs that is either seeing an increased demand or simply needs its funding replenished. This year it’s the Cancer Assistance Fund that needs a boost in funding due to increased demand.”
Designed to provide a helping hand when all over avenues of funding have been explored and/or exhausted, the Cancer Assistance Fund helps to fund transportation for treatment, food & nutritional assistance, and other areas as identified by the Cumberland Health Authority’s Cancer Navigator as being required to maintain the health of the cancer patient.
Donations to the Cancer Assistance Fund directly support cancer patients who are facing significant financial pressure as a result of the impact of the illness. “It’s one of the most common things that everyday people think of when diagnosed,” said Holly Chapman, CHA Cancer Navigator, “it’s not just the shock of diagnosis but the foreseen financial impact of having cancer such as not being able to work or the travel to treatment and other expenses.”
Over 50 cancer patients in Cumberland County have benefitted from donations made to the Cancer Assistance Fund of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation since the fund was created two years ago. More than $46,000 in funding assistance requests has been approved to help patients with the costs related to travelling for treatment, nutritional assistance and medical supplies.
Cancer Navigators work closely with family doctors, cancer specialists as well as community cancer services to coordinate optimal care. They are one of the first points of contact for patients who are diagnosed with cancer and they enhance the community’s capacity to support people with cancer and their caregivers. Cancer patients can either be referred by the family doctor involved or by contacting the Cancer Navigator directly (no referral required) (902) 667-6424 or toll-free 1-866-524-1234.
On hand to promote the concept of giving back the gift were this year’s four hole-in-one $30,000 sponsors Scotia Hyundai, Barnes Insurance, Fort Equipment, and Amherst Chrysler.
(Illustrating the charitable act of giving back the gift bags are (front left) Michael Stack, Barnes Insurance, Holly Chapman, CHA Cancer Navigator, and Jeff Brennan, Fort Equipment (from back left) John Richard, Amherst Chrysler, David Wood, Honorary Golf Chair, and Angus Furlong, Scotia Hyundai.
“Charity begins at home,” said Barnes Insurance representative Michael Stack, “and sometimes that means you forego the little things if it means helping someone in need. If the cost of that gift bag helps someone be able to afford to travel from anywhere in Cumberland to a cancer treatment centre in Moncton or Halifax then I know where my priority as a golfer stands. Help the patient.”
Thirty-two of 36 team spots are currently filled which also includes the Foundation’s first pledge team which will be raising money solely for the Cancer Assistance Fund. “It’s a new concept for us and we had originally planned on having six pledge teams but we’re happy to at least have one to start the process this year,” continued Wood, “and 100% of those pledges will be going directly to the Cancer Assistance Fund.”
Additional information on the 16th annual Highland Classic Charity Tournament can be obtained by contacting the Cumberland Health Care Foundation at 667-5400 (ext. 6210) or by emailing info@chcfoundation.com.
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
- Agfa Healthcare www.agfa.com
- Patterson Law www.pattersonlaw.ca
- Scotiabank Victoria Street Amherst www.scotiabank.com
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
- Amherst Toyota
- Astra Zeneca
- Crothall Services
- Marsh Canada / G E Morgan Adjusters
- Siemens Canada Limited
Basic Teams
- Amherst Detailing / RKO
- Barnes Insurance
- CAN-Med
- Cumberland Health Authority
- Cumberland Health Care Foundation www.chcfoundation.com
- Eva’s Band
- IMP Steelworkers Union #4883
- J. M. Giffin Engineering
- Johnson Inc.
- M B S A Bienkowski
- Maritime Pride Eggs
- Old Faithful
- PolyCello #2
- PolyCello #3
- Wood’s Team
Pledge Teams
Media Sponsor
$30,000 value - Hole in One Sponsors
- Barnes Insurance – Hole #9
- Amherst Chrysler – Hole #15
- Fort Equipment – Hole #13
- Scotia Hyundai – Hole #4
Refreshment / Activity Hole Sponsors
- Amherst Wandlyn
- Art of Eating Deli
- Amherst Pharmasave
- CIBC Wood-Gundy
- Jeannes’ Cakehouse & Decorating
- Sobey’s Amherst
Tent Sponsor
Water Sponsor
Prizes Sponsors
