Written By Olena Riznyk
STRATHROY – Before the first golfers teed off Friday morning, July 24th, organizers already knew this year's Golf Fore Mental Health Tournament had broken last year's fundraising record. By the end of the day, the tournament had raised an impressive $85,000–its highest total yet.
Held at Caradoc Sands Golf Club, the annual event brought together 144 golfers, about 25 volunteers and nearly 50 donors in support of local mental health services through the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley.
For organizer Kevin Kingma, though, the biggest success wasn't the money. "This year, I was quite impressed with the response to our event. We had already passed what we raised last year before we even started the day," he said. "That can't happen without our volunteers, our supporters and our sponsors."
The tournament keeps getting bigger every year, with more golfers, more sponsors and more people wanting to get involved. But Kingma said what matters most is seeing more people talk openly about mental health.
.“The main reason we’re out here is to raise awareness that we do have local services in town that are there to help with any mental health needs,” he said. “If we do have a goal, it’s just to get more people talking, to normalize that people do have tough days. We all have tough days, and we have supports, we have our peers and we have our services.”
Among those taking part was Strathroy-Caradoc native and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan, who said supporting the tournament was an easy decision. “The community has done a lot for me and my family, so I feel like it’s good to come out here and support it,” Cowan said. “It’s a great cause.”
The cause is personal for Cowan. “Unfortunately, I’ve lost a friend due to mental health,” he said. “If we can get out here and raise money to help, it goes a long way.”
Mayor Colin Grantham, who has attended the tournament for the past four years, thanked Kingma and the volunteers for the work they continue to put into the event. “Mental health is the number one issue we’re facing in our country today,” Grantham said. He added that everyone is affected by mental health in one way or another, making events like this an important reminder that no one has to face those struggles alone.
Every dollar raised through the tournament will stay in the community, helping fund local CMHA programs for people who need them most.
