Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Jill Sperling

ALS Golf Tournament

Community generosity showcased in 11th annual ALS Golf Tournament

Aug 16, 2019 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — 144 Golfers teed off this morning (Aug 16) for the 11th annual ALS Golf Tournament at the Dunes.

Through the tournament, the ALS Society of BC raises funds to support caretakers and people living with ALS.

The society’s Executive Director, Wendy Toyer, says she’s always impressed by the generosity of the community during the event.

“This golf tournament is so successful this year in fact it was sold out almost two months before the date which is really fantastic,” she said. “It really does my heart well that so many people want to come out and support our cause.”

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Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

That cause is to provide the best quality of life possible for people living with the disease.

“Hospital Beds, lifts, everything they need for the best quality of life while living at home we provide free of charge, and generally speaking within two business days of getting a request anywhere in British Columbia,” Toyer said. “This tournament is very special because 30 per cent of the proceed is going to a special fund, called the Kamloops Endowed fund and that funds state of the art communication technology.”

Many of the volunteers and participants of the tournament have lost a family member to ALS.

Comedian David C. Jones has been participating in ALS society fundraisers ever since his mother passed away from the disease.

“I always tried to make her laugh,” Jones said. “If I was distracting here, making her laugh, then she wasn’t thinking about what was happening to her body. That’s one of the reasons I have been helping so much, is trying to distract people from the horrors of ALS, whether that’s the caregivers, the healthcare workers, or the actual patients themselves.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

Jones’ role in the tournament is to rustle up money for ‘Bucket List’ raffle tickets.

“This tournament raises about $30,000 net each year,” Toyer said. “But, this year, because of the generosity of WestJet, we already raised $20,000 before we started with a raffle, we sold out our raffle tickets. Collectively, over the 11 years we’re now over half a million dollars has been raised by this tournament.”

Perhaps just as important as raising money for the ALS Society, the tournament is shedding light on this degenerative disease and raising hopes for a cure.