Kelowna

The legacy of Sindi Hawkins lived on Friday as the BC Cancer Foundation Golf Classic in Memory of Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins took place at the Harvest Golf Club, and raised over $52,000 in the process.

Photo: Contributed - Cynthia Waldek-Peters

Over 100 golfers took part in the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins golf tournament at the Harvest Golf Club on Friday.

Since her passing in 2010 from acute myeloid leukemia, the BC Cancer Foundation has held the tournament in Sindi’s memory to honour her extraordinary passion and commitment to the work of the BC Cancer Agency and pay tribute to her lasting legacy of generosity.

Over 100 golfers hit the course under blue skies and sunshine for this year’s Golf Classic to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation.

“As a champion and ambassador for the BC Cancer Foundation, Sindi dedicated her life to raising awareness and significant funds for cancer research," says Douglas Nelson, BC Cancer Foundation President & CEO.

"Her philanthropic spirit was truly infectious, and this event was one of her most powerful platforms to inspire the generosity of others. By following her example, this event has become a symbol of the results that happen when members of a community come together as partners in discovery,”

Organizers say that over a 15 year period, this tournament has raised over $1 million for improvements to patient care and leading-edge cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency.

“Sindi was so devoted to improving cancer care for all, and I am proud to see her legacy carry on through the Golf Classic each year. Thank you to everyone who came out to take part in the Golf Classic,” says Lucky Ahluwalia, Sindi’s brother and Golf Classic participant.

The money raised has made a significant contribution to patient care enhancements in the Southern Interior, including the new breast cancer patient navigator role at the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.

This role is part of the Interior Breast Rapid Access Program for Investigation and Diagnosis (IB-RAPID) program which provides support to individuals in the Southern Interior diagnosed with breast cancer as they move through an often stressful and difficult cancer journey.

As the fundraising partner of the BC Cancer Agency, and the largest charitable funder of cancer research in this province, the foundation enables donors to make contributions to leading-edge research that has a direct impact on improvements to cancer care for patients in British Columbia.

They are an independent charitable organization with the goal of finding solutions through innovative cancer research and compassionate enhancements to patient care.

You're invited to visit their website to make a donation or to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.