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A bow for the Stollery

It's a charity golf tournament that has a unique trademark, a bow. The Children's Charity Golf Tournament held it's seventh event this year, with over 140 golfers taking to the greens of the Bonnyville Golf and Country Club on Saturday, June 24.
The Reid family has been hosting the Children’s Charity Golf Tournament for six years. The event is a fudraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. (left to
The Reid family has been hosting the Children’s Charity Golf Tournament for six years. The event is a fudraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. (left to right) Andrea, Kennedy, Mark, and Keanna.

It's a charity golf tournament that has a unique trademark, a bow.

The Children's Charity Golf Tournament held it's seventh event this year, with over 140 golfers taking to the greens of the Bonnyville Golf and Country Club on Saturday, June 24.

The event fundraises for the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, and since the tee-off seven years ago it has raised over $110,000.

The Reid family started the tournament because of Kennedy, an 11-year-old born with Costello syndrome.

“Kennedy had her wish granted through the Children's Wish Foundation, and we met the person that raised the money for the wish trip. We came out of there thinking that we needed to give back,” said Mark Reid, Kennedy's father.

The pay-it-forward mindset brought them to the charity golf tournament, and since then they have watched it grow.

“Since we've been doing this, we find out about more and more kids who use the Stollery. It's not just Kennedy,” expressed Mark.

Kennedy travels to Edmonton almost once a month for check-ups. Without the Stollery, those trips would take the family much longer.

Keanna Reid, Kennedy's older sister said, “It amazes me how many people want to help the Stollery. If we didn't have it… Kennedy would have had to go somewhere far away for the care that she needs.”

Costello syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects 200 to 300 people worldwide each year. Since the start of her journey, Kennedy has undergone seven surgeries and made countless visits to the Stollery.

This is just one of the many reasons why the family wants to promote the hospital, so people can see first-hand how important it is to families like the Reids.

Tim Graham is a parent of two boys who have spent time at the Stollery. In one case the family was there for three weeks.

He has been participating in the event since the very first tournament.

“There are so many kids in the area that benefit from it, I don't know where they would go if there wasn't a Stollery in Edmonton, maybe Toronto or Calgary. I can't even describe how important it is, it's immeasurable,” he noted.

Kennedy's mother, Andrea Reid, said every year they hear about more and more families like theirs.

Every day, Kennedy wears a bow in her hair. That simple accessory has become the trademark of the tournament.

On the day of the event, she walks the greens with her friends handing out cookies and bows to golfers.

“There are people who come back that have six bows from previous years,” expressed Mark. “It's huge. From a little thing we started to give back, to see how much it's grown, it feels good.”

This was the seventh year sisters Cindy Johnson and Debbie Coulombe have volunteered for the event.

As close friends of the Reid family, they have been there since the very beginning.

“There are so many kids in the community. We didn't even realize how many use the Stollery. I think (this event) is fabulous,” Johnson expressed.

This year the tournament raised over $22,000.

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