More than 100 golfers, volunteers and sponsors united at the first annual YGK Healthcare Champions Golf Tournament to raise $40,000 for Providence Care’s Rehabilitation Services.

For Emma Fitzgerald, the YGK Healthcare Champions Golf Tournament is more than just a fundraiser for the Providence Care’s Rehabilitation Services. It’s a way to say thank you to the organization that helped her father walk again.

Emma – a YGK Healthcare Champions executive and one of the tournament organizers – and more than 100 golfers, volunteers and sponsors united to raise more than $40,000 at the August 22 event at Loyalist Golf and Country Club. (YGK Healthcare Champion executives Greg Brown and Heather Shortall and University Hospitals Kingston Foundation employee Krista Lessard also serve on the tournament organizing committee.)

Emma’s dad, Ed, was involved in a serious car accident in 2021 and doctors weren’t sure if he would survive. Fortunately, they saved his life and Ed was eventually sent to Providence Care Hospital for rehabilitation. The original outlook was that he may not walk again. But with the help of a talented interprofessional team and Ed’s own determination, he was soon able to slowly move his feet. Eventually, he relearned how to walk and today he only has a few limitations. He runs a construction company and can tour worksites, get in and out of equipment, and drive his car.

“Providence Care’s Rehabilitation Services was a huge part in helping my dad walk again after his accident,” said Emma. “It's great to see golfers come out today and support the cause. Everybody wants to have a fun day on the golf course while supporting an important cause.”

Darcy Woods Fournier, Vice President of Patient & Client Care and Chief Nursing Executive at Providence Care, attended the event and thanked all the golfers for their support.

“The funds we raise today will go directly toward acquiring vital rehabilitation equipment – tools that are essential for the people we serve during their journey to wellness and recovery,” Darcy told the crowd before teeing off. “These are more than just machines, devices and tools. They are lifelines. Our equipment, and our incredible staff, help individuals rebuild their strength, regain their endurance and reclaim their life.”

Darcy also mentioned that provincial government funding doesn’t cover the full scope of health-care costs. When Providence Care Hospital opened in 2017, Providence Care as an organization was responsible for fundraising 100 per cent of the costs for new equipment through University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. However, with inflation and the increasing demand for services, Darcy says these goals have become more difficult to reach alone.

That’s why the support of donors – and fundraising events like the YGK Healthcare Champions Golf Tournament – are so critical.

This was an inaugural golf tournament for the YGK Healthcare Champions, a group of local leaders who raise funds in support of Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and Providence Care through University Hospitals Kingston Foundation.

This year’s funds will help purchase rehabilitation equipment that will better serve the individuals who walk through Providence Care Hospital as inpatients and outpatients for rehabilitation following a traumatic health event like a stroke, heart attack, spinal cord injury or accident, like what Emma’s father experienced.  

The YGK Healthcare Champions are a great example of how individuals can make meaningful impact by coming together to ensure accessible, quality health care for our families, our friends and our neighbors. If you are interested in becoming a YGK Healthcare Champion and supporting your community, visit our YGK Healthcare Champions webpage to learn more.