The Dempster Foundation Canada’s sixth annual golf tournament on June 27 had its best turnout ever with more than 170 golfers and over 30 volunteers gathered at the Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club.
“With that many golfers out there – with different events going on – you just couldn’t do it without the volunteers that we had,” said Wally Dempster, father of retired pro-baseball player Ryan Dempster.
There were so many participants this year that they had to be split into two shotgun starts. Although the exact figures haven’t come in yet, Dempster estimated that they raised more than $30,000 for 22q syndrome.
“Now they understand that it’s a depletion or mutation of the 22nd chromosome,” Wally said. “Most people are familiar with Down Syndrome, that’s a deletion or mutation of the 21st chromosome. They’re similar in nature and the kids often have some similar symptoms and manifestations.”
Symptoms range from heart issues to facial deformities such cleft palates. Ryan’s daughter has 22q syndrome.
“She spent the first year of her life in the hospital basically, the first year and half with a trachea tube and a feeding tube,” Wally said. “My son [Ryan} was in a position to get her the best of care, but he met many families who weren’t in that position. He wanted to do something to help them, so he started the foundation in the U.S.”
The Dempsters thanked everyone on the Sunshine Coast involved with the tournament for their generosity and support.
