Golf Marathon Storms Back!

Fundraising for the GI Society

On September 26, 2011, a tropical storm travelled all the way across the Pacific toward the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, BC, to torrent down on our brave marathon golfers – who’d spent the summer soliciting pledges for this big day – as they played hole after hole to fulfil the terms of their donations. It was a full day of golf, just as we’d hoped for our eighth event, but it was also a day of raincoats, hot chocolate, and shared laughter.

We began raising funds to support gastrointestinal education and research initiatives through this unique all-day event in 1998. As a registered charity, donations, government grants, subscriptions, and fundraising events such as this one are vital to sustaining our activities.

One superstar player, Chris MacLean, whose pledges depended on the number of holes he played, was out taking his first swing at 7 am, along with his buddy, Felix Loo, with nary a thought to the rain and wind blustering around them. By late afternoon, Chris was warming himself by the fire at the club house. Amazed he’d been out for so long, we asked him, “How many holes did you manage?” “Thirty-six,” he replied, grinning from ear to ear in his rain-soaked gear. “So far!”

Not twenty minutes later, Chris was out on the green again. That positive spirit carried on throughout the day. While staff processed the pledges that continued to pour in (if you’ll excuse the pun), numerous golfers enjoyed exclusive access to the beautiful course.

GI Society Board member, Jennifer Lowther, recruited half of this year’s players and encouraged her colleagues at sanofi-aventis, friends, and family to support the cause. After Jennifer finished her own rounds, she went right back out to cheer on those who were still playing.

Pierre Fournier, who has raised funds and golfed in this event since its inception, also volunteered his technical expertise to capture the action for a commemorative multi-media project, which will is available on our golf blog.

Everyone received a few nice rewards, but the golfer who raised the most money, David Miachika, who has been a long-time supporter, and the golfer who played the most holes, Chris MacLean, were the first to choose gifts from the prize table. David selected the BC Lions football, autographed by the entire 2011 Grey Cup winning team, and then donated this valuable prize back to the Society so we could raise even more money by auctioning it off on eBay, where it sold for $600. The GI Society’s very own Outreach Coordinator, Kimberly Skulsky, played double duty, donning her golf gear to raise the third highest total donations, while also helping with administrative details. By the time we put the golf clubs away, we had raised close to $14,000!

We want to thank all those who shared in this year’s renewed event – our golfers, donors, volunteers, and everyone who supported us in some way. Our Golf Marathon allows the entire community to come together and show support for the millions of Canadians affected by gastrointestinal and liver conditions.

We are grateful to our generous prize donors: Abbott Laboratories Ltd., BC Lions Football Club Inc., Burnaby Village Museum, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, Festival Cinemas, Hewlett Packard (Canada) Ltd., Janssen Inc., Japanese Restaurant Shiro, Kumsheen Rafting Resort, Medical Futures Inc., Natural Factors Nutritional Products, Nintendo of Canada Ltd., Playhouse Theatre Company, Prelam Enterprises Ltd., Purdy’s Chocolates, and Salt Spring Vineyards.

We also offer a special thanks to Janssen Inc., Borden Ladner Gervais, and sanofi-aventis for financial contributions in support of their participating personnel.

Golf with Us in 2012

Does a pampered day of exclusive golf sound like fun? Be part of it! The next Golf Marathon will take place on Monday, September 24, 2012, again at beautiful Northview. We are planning for forty participating golfers, who will raise $100,000! We can’t promise sunshine... but we can guarantee a wonderful day of golf and good cheer, all in support of a very worthy cause.

Contact our office to find out how you can sign up now for the GI Society’s 2012 Golf Marathon!