Rally ‘Fore’ the Cure aims to raise $15,000 for local mammography program

Committee member Barbara Lassaline ready to sell tickets at the Farmers’ Market in May.

Building on last year’s successful golf tournament and fundraising effort that resulted in a $10,500 donation made to the AMGH Foundation, Rally Fore the Cure Huron is once again busy raising funds in conjunction with its annual golf tournament.

Funds are donated to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH) mammography program.

Over the years, this golf tournament has raised and donated over $60,000 to date.

The goal for the 24th annual golf tournament is to raise that total to at least $75,000, needing to raise $15,000 through the main event and raffle ticket sales.

Cancer touches almost everyone at some point in time. The Rally Fore the Cure committee believes it is important to promote and raise awareness of the early detection of breast cancer and do so by supporting the mammography section of the Imaging Department at AMGH.

Hospital equipment is expensive and is not funded by the Ontario government, but more importantly, the technology of mammography is improving all the time. With the most up-to-date equipment, the detection rate is better, and more lives can be saved.

Services like mammography are needed in the community, and at local hospitals, and fundraising events like the annual Rally Fore the Cure golf tournament assist with such services and equipment.

This year the tournament committee decided to broaden the message of the benefits of mammography to more of Huron County, so the tournament has gone on the road in its 24th year, taking place at Bluewater Golf Course near Bayfield on June 22.

Just a few days after the golf tournament registration opened on April 1, the tournament was full with 96 golfers looking forward to a day of pinkness with creative costumes, and dining together to support the local mammography program.

Huron County has one mammogram machine at AMGH in Goderich, which serves all of Huron County and beyond for doctor recommended mammography and the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

In addition to the donations made by every golfer in the tournament, the volunteer committee works hard to raise funds through other means, with the biggest donation being the ticket raffle.

This year there have been generous donations of raffle prizes totalling $1,200. A log cabin birdhouse with a pink metal roof hand crafted and donated by John and Patty Hodges, a 20–25-minute scenic flight by Papple Aviation donated by Ellen Connelly, an outdoor fire table donated by Canadian Tire Goderich and two event tickets donated by Huron Country Playhouse near Grand Bend are among the prizes.

Volunteers will be at the BIA Farmers’ Market at Courthouse Square in Goderich every Saturday until June 21 to sell tickets for the June 22 draw. Tickets cost $5 each or three tickets for $10.

Anne McIsaac is a Rally Fore the Cure Huron Committee Coordinator