The 9th Annual Skookum Asphalt Pro-Am Golf Charity Tournament held recently at the Mountain View Golf Club brought the Yukon Hospital Foundation’s campaign almost $50,000 closer to creating the first medical simulation centre in the north.

Thanks to the generosity amazing sponsors and participants, 100 per cent of those funds will go towards the Yukon medical simulation centre.

“It takes a community to raise funds,” Yukon Hospital Foundation president Karen Forward said in a recent press release. “And thanks to the generosity of our community, we were able to raise an incredible $47,000 after event expenses.”

Through rain, sun and more rain, 109 players from Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta, 18 professional golfers from the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association (CPGA) and dozens of volunteers enjoyed a day of great golf, great food and a bit of competition.

Team ATCO – Jay Massie, Mitch Malchow and Gibson Pearson with professional Chris Toth – won the team prize. Shayne King, Troy Cairns, Jeff Seaman and golf pro Cory Betz took second.

Toth, from Alberta’s Jagare Ridge Golf Club, and Brian Johnson from B.C.’s Beban Park Golf Course, tied for first among the professional golfers, both shooting 145. Toth won top honours in a playoff.

Kent Fukushima from Redwood Meadows took third with 148. In fourth place, Betz from Eaglecrest Golf Club shot 151. Mountain View gold pro Jeff Wiggins finished ninth among the pros, with a 156.

“We want to thank the signature sponsor, Skookum Asphalt for their ongoing support, as well as all of the day’s sponsors,” said Forward. “We are so grateful to the companies that come forward to sponsor the event, to donate auction items and to everyone that comes out to participate that day.

“Because of them we are able to invest in equipment that enhances the quality of care and will keep Yukoners closer to home during diagnosis and treatment.”

Meanwhile, at last weekend’s Mountain View Golf Club Championships, Dan King won the men’s title with a 151. Vic Istchenko won the senior’s event with a 165. Aimery Barrault shot a 174 to win the junior title and Brigitte Hunter won the women’s event with a 194.

The Yukon Hospital Foundation was established in 2005 to support quality health care right here, closer to home. Currently, the foundation is in year one of a two-year campaign to raise $1 million in support of a Yukon Medical Simulation Centre for the Whitehorse General Hospital.

The Medical Simulation Centre will allow our medical team and first responders to train together for Yukon specific medical emergencies so all Yukoners can receive the safest care in the moments that matter most.

Central to the training centre will be a number of life-sized, computerized mannequins that can simulate real time injuries and ailments that provide emergency personnel with the opportunity to train and respond to different situations.

The Skookum Asphalt Charity Pro-Am is one of the Yukon Hospital Foundation’s major annual fundraising events. The Northwestel Festival of Trees will open on Nov 22.

For more information about donations and event sponsorships, contact Karen Forward at 867-393-8930 or Karen.Forward@wgh.yk.ca.