Hundreds of golfers came together to tee off Saturday morning at Bear Mountain as part of the 21st annual Golf For Kids Charity Classic.
The tournament is one of the most successful single-day fundraising tournaments in the country, with proceeds supporting child and youth charities on Vancouver Island and the Help Fill A Dream Foundation.
Every year, about 20 dreams are filled, sending Island children and their families across the globe.
The tournament kicked off with a put from Poppy White, a 13-year-old who had her dream filled last year with a trip to France for herself and her family of eight. Her mother, Jenny, said itB次元官网网址檚 emotional and inspiring to be back at the tournament this year.
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B次元官网网址淚t renews our faith in community and the support that everyone gives and the time that everyone gives,B次元官网网址 Jenny said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty awe-inspiring for sure.B次元官网网址
Poppy, who loves soccer, said it was B次元官网网址渃oolB次元官网网址 to see the games although she noted travelling with her family was a little B次元官网网址渟tressful.B次元官网网址
B次元官网网址淲e do not travel well,B次元官网网址 Poppy said as her parents laughed beside her.
Both of PoppyB次元官网网址檚 parents said the chance to take the whole family to France was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e never done anything like that and we probably never will again,B次元官网网址 her father George said.
This year, seven kids whose dreams were previously filled as a result of the golf tournament raised money to make dreams come true for other children. They raised funds through busking, bake sales, birthday parties, recycling bottles and more.
Before the tournament even started, the seven of them presented cheques that totalled over $17,000.
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The 2019 event goal is to raise $1 million in one day for the third year in a row.
B次元官网网址淭his is kind of our Christmas Day,B次元官网网址 said Craig Smith, the Help Fill a Dream Foundation executive director. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a position to make life a little easier for families and give kids some hope, something to look forward to.B次元官网网址
Before sending the golfers away for a shotgun start, one dream was filled for Jonathan Gingras, who was surprised with an electric bicycle.
Gingras could be heard saying he was B次元官网网址渟peechlessB次元官网网址 about the bike.
The Golf for Kids tournament has raised $6.3 million to date. This year, there is a total of 192 golfers in the tournament and 130 volunteers who helped make it happen.
The seven children who donated cheques at the event are keeping the fundraising going until Sept. 30 online, with a goal to raise $25,000.
To make a donation, visit or call 250-382-3135.
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