The fifth annual Fore Parkinson’s golf tournament is almost here, and registration is now open.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, Carman Golf & Curling Club will host the tournament, which Bev Baker and her family put on in support of Parkinson’s research. The tournament is in honour of her dad, Jack Harder, who has Parkinson’s disease.
According to Parkinson Canada, more than 100,000 Canadians live with the complex brain disease and 25 Canadians are diagnosed with the incurable disease every day. The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, slowness and stiffness, impaired balance, and rigidity of the muscles. People with it can also experience fatigue, soft speech, stooped posture, problems with writing, constipation, and sleep disturbances. Parkinson Canada says as the disease progresses, non-motor symptoms can also appear.
There are drugs and medications those living with Parkinson’s can take, and though it affects the quality of life for most with it, the prognosis can be a near-normal life expectancy. Jack Harder has had Parkinson’s disease for well over a decade now and manages to keep a good attitude about it and life. Baker said the diagnosis was initially shocking for the family and came with a lot of learning for each of them. She said they had to learn what it is, how to manage it, what the prognosis can be, and more, but the answer to each question is different for everyone. She started the golf tournament to help fund research and find a cure for this incurable disease. It began with six teams, then 10, and has grown yearly.
Baker hopes the fifth annual Fore Parkinson’s golf tournament brings in at least 20 teams, though the more, the better. Registration is $125 per person, which includes a round of golf, dinner, and a donation to the cause. The first tee time is at 1 p.m., and golfers of all ages and skill levels are welcome — and encouraged — to join. For those wanting to support but who don’t want to golf, there’s also a dinner-only option, which is $20 a ticket. The dinner is a hot beef sandwich with fries. The tournament also features a silent auction and numerous hole cash prizes.
All funds generated from the tournament go to Parkinson Canada. Over the last four years, Baker guesses the event has raised more than $20,000 for the organization, and she’s hoping to keep par with that this year and raise at least $5,000.
To learn more about the tournament or to register as a team or individual, email bevelib@gmail.com or call 204-470-0517 or 204-799-6591.
