Golfers are set to tee off for a special cause this summer.
The Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation has teamed up with Paradise Canyon Golf Resort for the Hearts & Health Classic, a tournament raising funds for the Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign.
The campaign aims to raise $30 million to improve cardiac care in southern Alberta, through initiatives like a new cardiac care centre at Chinook Regional Hospital.
The tournament is set for Aug. 26 at Paradise Canyon. Crystal Elliott, CEO of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation said she is very excited for the event.
“It’s a new chapter and we’re looking forward to being able to support health care in a different over the next number of years,” Elliott said.
She added that the community has stepped up to help each other throughout the campaign. “We started this campaign in August of 2024 with a goal of raising $1 million a month for 30 months,” Elliott noted.
“We are now about nine months to the end of that timeline, and the power of the community that has enabled this to succeed is utterly incredible.”
She explained that the Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign is set to wrap up in January 2027 and to date, has raised $27.3 million.
“If we can go over our original $30 million goal, we’re going to reinforce the importance of advocating and being able to demonstrate that southern Albertans want this, southern Albertans need this and it really can make a difference in our communities,” Elliott said.
“Health care touches every stage, every age and every generation and no matter what, everybody can contribute, everybody can make a difference and no matter how small or how large, it’s impactful for them and that’s what matters. A donation isn’t necessarily about the dollar amount. It’s about the impact of why they’re giving and how they want to make a difference.”
She added that once the cardiac campaign’s goal is achieved, the CRH Foundation plans to continue with the Paradise Canyon golf tournament, with subsequent events raising funds to support other needs at the hospital in Lethbridge.
MATCH MADE IN PARADISE
Paradise Canyon owner and honorary chair of the Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign, Ron Sakamoto said getting involved comes with a personal connection.
“My father-in-law had heart problems and couldn’t get to Calgary on time a lot, and it’s really hard and happens to a lot of people and they don’t make it,” he said.
“It’s so well needed in southern Alberta [access to cardiac services], where you can get there [hospital] a lot faster because if you don’t, most of the time you don’t make it.”
Sakamoto said the goal for the tournament is to raise between $100,000 and $200,000. Roughly 120 to 150 golfers are expected to attend.
“We [Paradise Canyon] do around 40 tournaments a year, and we raise a lot of money, over $1 million to $2 million a year for charities and that’s what we do. That’s something that’s near and dear to all our hearts,” he added.
In appreciation of the tournament sponsors, golfers, volunteers and supporters, the CRH Foundation will host a free concert at the Yates Theatre, which will be produced by Ron Sakomoto and Gold & Gold Productions.
