Rotary Club of St. Marys hosts Fun Golf & Kenyan BBQ on a beautiful day

Josh Hartwick “putts” with a hockey stick at Rotary’s Fun Golf and Kenyan BBQ at River Valley Golf Course.

By Rotary Club of St. Marys

More than 80 people gathered under bluebird skies on Saturday, Sept. 20 at River Valley Golf Course for the Rotary Club of St. Marys’ Fun Golf & Kenyan BBQ.

Funds raised at the event will be directed toward Rotary’s upcoming centennial international project in Kenya.

“Today we excelled in the three F’s: Friend-raising, fun-raising and fund-raising,” event organizer Andrew Middleton said. “We all met new friends, we had a fabulous time and we raised money for a great cause.”

Attendees could choose between nine holes of golf and the Kenyan barbecue or just the barbecue dinner. The staff at River Valley outdid themselves preparing a beautiful, multi-course Kenyan barbecue meal. Samosas were served as appetizers, seasoned, barbequed steak, chicken and sausage anchored the main course, and side dishes included the potato dish, Irio, and the bean dish, Akara. No one went home hungry.

Muguori High School is located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. The school’s more than 400 students and staff rely on multiple outhouses. There are no proper washrooms with running water and toilets. As a result, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among the school’s female students. When girls go home to recover, they are unlikely to return to the school, resulting in unfinished education.

The Rotary Club of St. Marys is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In early 2024, the club designated Muguori High School as their centennial international project. In November 2025, 14 people will travel to Kenya to complete the project. In addition to the new washrooms, volunteers will refresh the classrooms and teach keyboarding skills to the students. Each volunteer is paying their own way to Kenya. None of the funds raised are being used for travel costs.

The Rotary Club of St. Marys thanks the many tournament sponsors for their generosity. The club would also like to thank River Valley Golf Course for being such a great event host.

Members of the public who feel encouraged by this project in Kenya and want to donate may do so at rotarystmarys.ca/donations.