The fourth annual Affair for the Heart golf tournament, held in mid-June, raised more than $4,300 for the Stettler Health Services Foundation, which helps fund improvements for the local hospital.
Pumping up the heart-healthy event on June 17 were the 'Justice League' superheroes for health, made up of nursing team members Sarah Halverson, Tricia Wagner, Julie Primrose and Katie Waine dressed up, respectively, as The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman. Wagner's son, 10-year-old Deacon Barclay, also suited up as Batman's sidekick Robin. The well, the team won the bedpan award for "most-honest golfers."
"It was fun dressing up — and the superhero theme fit great in support of health care," Halverson, a registered nurse and clinical educator at the care centre, said. "I've seen the impact our health foundation has on our local health care and participating in this, and other fundraising events, is not only fun but a privilege, where I can be involved in such a good cause."
Fifty-three golfers took part in the 18-hole tournament, enjoying dinner after the relaxing, fun day. The organizers also created special "game holes," where they had to do different things.
On the first hole, golfers could - for $5 - try to chip jumbo marshmallows into the hole to win gift certificates donated by local businesses.
Instead of golfing holes five and six on the front nine, and 14 and 15 on the back nine, teams drew a golf ball in the club house after the tournament. If the golf ball had a nine, they got a mulligan and drew again, the second number drawn pencilled in as their score for the corresponding hole.
The day also saw 50/50 sales and a silent auction, with the proceeds bringing the event's total to more than $20,000 raised over its four years.
Leona Thorogood, the foundation's chairperson, noted in a press release that, "Our community is always there for us and we are so fortunate to see the big show of support for our health care. I couldn't be more grateful, and I'm looking forward to our next step in upgrades to the health centre."
An Affair for the Heart is continuing as the foundation gears up once again for its next big project — renovations to the labour and delivery room at the hospital.