Golf Canada's partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society - through Golf Fore the Cure - has raised more than $4 million to support the Society's breast cancer research and support programs. From east to west and as far north as the Northwest Territories, thousands of women have been making a huge difference in the lives of Canadians affected by breast cancer, one round at a time.
Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, recalls the origins of the program. “Initially, we simply wanted to get more women involved in golf. We knew that there was about a 3:1 participation difference in men and women playing the game, and we felt the need to create a platform specifically for women that would be appealing and motivate more of them to play. So out of that, Golf Fore the Cure was born.”
This signature fundraising program has grown from just over 50 events in 2006 to nearly 180 in 2014. Each year, site coordinators invest many hours in planning, coordinating and hosting local golf events. While the women who participate get involved for various reasons, they share a common goal of defeating breast cancer.
Golf Canada expects to see even more women participating in the program this year. “While the philanthropic focus of the program underpins its success, we haven’t lost sight of the goal of getting more women to play golf. In fact, more women playing translates into even more funds generated for breast cancer research, awareness and support,” says Jeff Thompson.