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Golf Tournament 2000 |
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Nothing Comes Easy……….. With some friends and my golf bag, I headed out this past July 21st
to Golf Dorval for a round. Little
did 1 know that only some months later would I realize why, and for what cause
over 170 others and I were there. I'd had an idea of what the Mingo-McEwen Fund was and how it all started.
What I didn't know about was the great amount of time, hard work, and
effort many people had put in over the years to make the Fund, and particularly
this event, a giant success. 144 golfers and over 30 volunteers made up the
crowd for this, the 2nd Annual Mingo-McEwen Golf Tournament.
In attendance too were honorary guests Brent Mingo and Meagan Hamey, who
played and helped out with the running of the tournament.
Their parents and many friends and relatives were there also, taking
photos, running around and selling raffle tickets for the draw to be held later
at the Ceilidh Reception Hall on MacDonald Campus in Ste-Anne de Bellevue.
The cost for the day was a 100$ which got you 1) a round of golf 2) a
golf cart 3) a grab bag with assorted goodies 4) a Dagwood’s dinner reception
5) the feeling you’ve had a good day and done some good.
All proceeds from the event, which were handsome and in the vicinity of
20k, go to the Montreal Children's Hospital.
As is customary for this type of organization, a large portion of
funds/gifts raised/donated come from sponsors, both anonymously and at large.
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Golf Dorval played gracious host for the second consecutive year, and
despite wet conditions offered up a beautiful 18 holes.
BMW had a motorcycle up for grabs on the back nine for a hole-in-one
prize. Dagwood’s sponsored the
reception with sandwiches and salads all seemed to enjoy. Over
200 prizes, aside from those won in the raffle were there for the 144 golfers to
go through, respectively matching up their pre-established prize ticket numbers.
Golf bags, hockey gloves, a rake watch, pen sets and golf balls were
among these prizes. The raffle boasted an autographed Maurice Richard stick, a
patio set, golf bags again, a 1 Year family membership at the Casgrain Centre at
John Abbott, a round for 4 at Golf Dorval, among other things.
On the course there were many other little games to partake in.
A tooney toss on the 4'h hole took 4$ out of me.
There was also a closest to the pin on the 5th where there
were some bankers from the Banque Nationale du Canada competing with each golfer
for a prize to be determined later. Chris
from my group won the straightest drive contest and a new driver by crashing a
drive around 275 yards and landing it on the chalk-drawn line etched down the
middle of the fairway.
The format was a Vegas one. This
is where each player from the 4 person group has a chance at beating out the
previous best shot, and where the group can elect to hit from which ball they
feel would give them the best chance at the next shot.
Sounds easy enough eh?? I continue to learn that in this game, there are
no gimmes and no shots are easy. Unfortunately
in my group, there was often no "best" shot and we were forced to
settle with a pretty bad "Best” shot.
We were not alone so I'm told.
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The tournament boasted foreign golfers, with friends of organizers making
the trek from as far away as the UK, Toronto and Quebec City.
Many of the sponsors, as well as hospital staff and rugby players from
Ste-Anne's found themselves in Dorval. A
large contingent of the sponsors and individuals/volunteers were from the West
Island, basically the background for the MM Fund headquarters.
With the support stemming from that area and now beyond, from both
sponsors and individuals, the Fund and this event in particular will surely
continue to grow.
The tournament's raison d’ętre surrounds 3 youngsters whose stories
are telling. Telling of how families and individuals are sometimes faced with
challenges beyond their control. Although
not easy, with a strong will, perseverance and lots of help, anything can be
overcome. This Fund acts as an
extended family. A family whose
lineage will be traced to ill children faced with stays at the Montreal
Children's Hospital years from now. A
family whose goal is to make their stay more comfortable and swift, as well as
ensure the staff is supplied with whatever resources they feel may help both
them and the kids.
My involvement with this Fund began on a small Christmas trip made by two
hands full of rugby players last holiday season. We spent part of a morning in the Neuroscience Ward
decorating trees and hallways, visiting with the kids, and sitting them on
Santa's lap.
I have not made many trips into the hospital, and when told about the
amount and lengths of time some of these kids spend in there, it blew my mind.
I'm all for making their stay as pleasant as can be expected.
I've come on as web site reporter and will do my part in helping publicize
the ideas and goals this Fund has for the ward, hospital, and the kids, For any
and all information regarding sponsorship, event schedule, and contacts, please
see the home page.
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