A few columns ago, I wrote about how a beautiful sunny day on the golf course is a day well spent.

On Tuesday, June 14, my hope for blue skies and sunshine on the golf course came true! And, it was a day well spent in support of our hospital. Here’s why.

Supporters of our Teeing Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic scored a hole-in-one by raising over $38,000 for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF).

Ninety-five golfers teed off under those pre-ordered sunny skies to enjoy 18 holes on the picturesque and challenging course at the Picton Golf and Country Club.

Realtors at RE/MAX Quinte in Prince Edward County have been teeing up their support for seven years to improve the care patients receive at Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (QHC PECMH) by directing the proceeds from this annual tournament towards PECMHF’s current campaign for medical equipment.

Their efforts have offset the purchase of an X-Ray Machine needed at our hospital.

Last year, 7,377 patients required the use of the X-Ray machine at Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (QHC PECMH) Purchased 14 years ago, the current machine is past its recommended lifespan. The image quality is diminishing and parts are becoming difficult to source. The new X-Ray machine will cost $595,000.

This year’s achievement brings the seven-year total raised through this tournament to just over $201,600, which brings RE/MAX’s cumulative giving to PECMHF since 1998 to $455,396.81!

They haven’t done this alone. Helping me to lead the charge on the golf committee are Terry DeRoche; Rachel Henry; Kerry McConkey; Sean McKinney and Herb Pliwischkies. This small, but mighty team works hard to solicit support from the community, and ensure our tournament is sold out. I am thankful for their dedication to making the tournament a fun day to remember for all our participants.

Many donors have supported the tournament including our sponsors, our incredible volunteers, and the golfers who join us each year.

We extend special thanks to our leadership sponsors, Wilkinson & Company; Wellings of Picton; Port Picton Homes; Parkside Landscaping and Contracting; HDR Architecture Associates; Terri Gulliver on behalf of the CIBC Mobile Mortgage Advisor Team; Herb and Kathy Pliwishckies; Taskforce Engineering; Market High Advertising and Tri-Canadian Energy. We are also indebted to Huff Estates Winery and Metro for the swag bag contributions and our 50+ hole and prize sponsors.

Each year Picton Home Hardware Building Centre contribute the prizes for the hole activities and top foursome. The winners of the contests were as follows:

Longest Drive Competition: Terry Greer and Diana Nieuwenhof.

Closest to the Pin: Barry Raycroft and Meribeth Edwards.

Prince Edward Pizza’s team of Brett Hele, David Anthony, Andrew Thomson, and Dennis Williams were the winning foursome at 12 under par.

The live auction portion of the evening saw wonderful prizes donated by the Waring House, Brookstreet Hotel, the Toronto Blue Jays, and tickets to the National Bank Open. The auction raised over $5,800.

Because priority equipment purchases are not government funded, ongoing support from our donors, businesses, and those who hold fundraisers on our behalf ensure we can continue to invest in areas of the hospital that require urgent attention to increase patient access to high-quality local care.

I never grow tired of a blue sky. The same rings true for our hospital. I never tire of the amazing support shown by so many in this community. Thank you!

For information about our hospital, or to make a donation call 613-476-1008 ext. 4502, or visit the Foundation’s newly redesigned website at www.pecmhf.ca.