June has been an exciting month for the Castlegar Hospice Society, with a new award and a charity golf tournament on the horizon.
On Saturday night, executive director Suzanne Lehbauer accepted the professional business award for the society at the Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards – an acknowledgement that Lehbauer said comes at a very important time in her life.
“Winning it is very poignant for me because I just lost my mom in the last week,” she said. “I used hospice services from Castlegar and Trail and they literally saved me.”
The award is given to a business or business person in the financial, medical or professional field that demonstrates integrity, professionalism and outstanding community service.
“The community realizes that there is help,” she said. “It’s a testament to how hard our volunteers work.”
On June 26, the society is teaming up with Mountain FM for a golf tournament at the Castlegar Golf Club. Although this is the third year Castlegar Hospice has put on a tournament, it’s the first time Mountain FM has become a title sponsor.
“This year we’re going bigger, we’re going better,” Lehbauer said.
The Mountain FM Classic Rock Classic for Castlegar Hospice is aiming to bring out golfers of all ages, Drex, program director for Mountain FM said.
He explained by bringing in great prizes and auction items, he hopes the word will get out and they can fill the tournament up.
Live auction items include a Fender guitar autographed by Led Zeppelin, an autographed Fleetwood Mac album, an autographed Lady Gaga photo, and an autographed Tim Burton sketch.
Another item, an autographed Sidney Crosby photo, was donated by Castlegar News publisher Chris Hopkyns after winning it in a live auction at the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards last weekend.
“Of course everything comes with a certificate that says they authenticate the signatures,” Lehbauer said.
Lehbauer said the sought-after auction items will be available for a phone-in bid as well. She said to stay tuned to the Castlegar Hospice website for a full list of auction items and a phone number to call during the auction.
A silent auction will also be available with items donated by local businesses.
Three holes will be used for hole-in-one prizes, although it hasn’t been disclosed which holes those will be yet, so potential players can’t get out and practise.
The prizes, however, have been announced.
The first, sponsored by West’s Travel and RHC Insurance is an African Safari. The second, sponsored by Hall Printing is $10,000 cash and the third is your choice of one of three vehicles from Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza. All three vehicles will be on display the day of.
To register, visit castlegarhospice.org to download a registration form. Each entry is $75 and gets you 18 holes of golf and dinner.
Check-in starts at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. followed by the auction.
All proceeds go to the Castlegar Hospice Society.