Golfers and supporters gathered for the fifth annual Power of Hope Golf Tournament on August 25 and raised an incredible $176,530 in support of prostate cancer care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
This brings the tournament’s five-year total to more than $740,000, with the money supporting KHSC’s surgical robotics program which provides cutting edge, minimally invasive procedures using small incisions (compared to traditional surgery) which lead to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activities.
For tournament organizer Mike Laframboise, the event is deeply personal. A prostate cancer survivor, Mike underwent surgery at KHSC in 2019 with doctors using the da Vinci surgical robot—a technology made possible in Kingston with support from a generous donor.
Today, Mike is healthy and passionate about giving back.
“I found out I had prostate cancer in 2017 and was fortunate to benefit from the da Vinci robot when I had my prostate removed,” says Mike. “That surgery changed my life. I wanted to give back, not just with a donation, but by doing something bigger for others facing prostate cancer. That’s how Power of Hope was born.”
The event continues to resonate with the community, drawing strong support from those who have been personally touched by prostate cancer.
“So many people come forward because either they or a loved one have faced this disease,” Mike adds. “It’s been incredibly gratifying to see the outpouring of generosity.”
Among the 148 golfers who took part in Monday’s tournament was Dr. Curtis Nickel, a retired KHSC urologist and prostate cancer survivor. With more than four decades of experience in urology, Dr. Nickel has seen first-hand the remarkable improvements in treatment.
“Forty years ago, patients stayed in hospital for weeks after surgery. Now, thanks to robotic surgery, most are home the next day with fewer complications and a better quality of life,” Dr. Nickel explains.
He also credits a newly developed drug with saving his own life after a high-grade cancer diagnosis several years ago.
“The advances through research and treatments—funded by events like this—have completely changed the prostate cancer field,” Dr. Nickel says. “I just want to thank everybody that showed up today. But, most importantly, the men that are going to develop prostate cancer in the future thank the people for all the money they are raising today.”