Elks host first annual golf tournament to raise awareness, funds for mental health

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The inaugural Elks Mental Health Golf Tournament proved to be a resounding success, raising an estimated $12,000 on Aug. 16 at the Strathmore Golf Club.

Sean Duthie, who sits on the Strathmore Elks golf committee, said the event was inspired to take place following several fatalities within the local community. 

“It first started last fall, we actually had an Elks member pass away to suicide and none of us knew that he was struggling or anything like that, and then we also lost a course marshal from the golf course here two months after that,” said Duthie. “Then in early January, there was actually an 18-year-old kid out by Carseland who had unfortunately lost their life to suicide. We have had a rash of suicides over the last eight months, so that was the reason the Elks decided to run the golf tournament and raise awareness for mental health.”

The Strathmore Elks partnered with the Strathmore Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), as well as the Wheatland FCSS in order to bring together the tournament. 

Duthie said when the Elks reached out, both organizations were eager to jump on board to help out. 

“We live in a rural community and there are a lot of people who are just dealing with mental health issues and then you even put in there dementia and Alzheimer’s and we have an aging community as well, so this mental health thing supports everyone from suicide prevention to elderly people,” said Duthie. 

In addition to the myriad of sponsors which supported the tournament, approximately 100 golfers came out to participate on the Saturday. 

“For the first one around, 100 golfers is pretty normal. We hope to fill it to a full tournament, which is 144, so a few more teams next year would be awesome,” said Duthie. “Next year I would say we have to get on it a little bit earlier just with organizing. We have multiple groups involved so we are going to start getting posters and information out probably by February next year.”

The funds raised through the tournament will be going towards hosting the Giving Back Gala, scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Strathmore Civic Center. Duthie added the goal for the event is to see approximately 200 people coming out.

Partnering with the Cheadle Lions Club, the gala aims to feature several mental health speakers and psychologists present to talk about suicide prevention. 

Dementia and Alzheimer’s supports will also be topics of discussion featured at the gala. 

“We just want to raise awareness, make sure people know that there is support out there for them, so that is what we are doing,” said Duthie. 

Information regarding the Gala will be made available through the Wheatland FCSS website.