The cleverly-named Swings for Anya charity golf tournament has become an instant success.
The swings taken on the golf course at Cowichan Golf & Country Club have set in motion the chance for the swings and other playground equipment at Fuller Lake Park to become a reality.
Related story: New $500,000 accessible playground approved for Fuller Lake Park
A dismal looking start to the day rapidly changed and the weather held out nicely Friday for the entourage of golfers supporting the cause.
Anya’s Journey Foundation director and dad Bruce Findlay noted in a letter to golfers the tournament raised $26,000, taking into account the silent and live auction, on-course event proceeds, the registration/dinner tickets and a massive donation from Island Ford Supercentre.
“These funds are being used to build an all-ages inclusive playground at Fuller Lake, near Chemainus,” Findlay pointed out. “We are working towards our goal of $500,000 for the playground, and this golf tournament – being only our second event to date – has given us a major boost forward.”
At the end of the golf tournament, many participants met Anya Findlay, whom the foundation is named after and the inspiration for all the fundraising.
“We’re thrilled you were able to meet our daughter and the foundation’s namesake, so you can see why we started this journey towards this playground,” Bruce added. “Anya, and her family, was wearing the Anya’s Journey Foundation T-shirt.”
Several extra T-shirts are still available for purchase for $25 each, with every dollar going towards the playground. Requests for T-shirts can be made directly by emailing golf@anyasjourney.com or will soon be available for ordering on the foundation’s website.
Findlay was grateful to numerous people and businesses for supporting the cause.
“This tournament would never have come together without the amazing sponsors,” he conceded.
The foundation is a registered charity that can offer tax receipts to any person, group or company donating monies or gifts-in-kind towards the playground cause, through the foundation.
To learn more about the foundation, the project or Anya herself, you can go to www.anyasjourney.com. Findlay indicated there will be other fundraising ideas coming soon.
