Cory Rudston-Brown golfed from dawn to dusk, playing an astounding 300 holes in a single day at Beach Grove Golf Club last month, in the PGA of B.C.’s Golfathon for ALS.
Starting at 4:20 a.m. and not finishing until 9:45 p.m., Rudston-Brown was once again raising money and awareness for the ALS Society of B.C.
The ninth annual Golfathon is a personal cause for the assistant pro at Beach Grove because his grandfather passed away from the disease. There is also a member at the club who has been diagnosed with ALS.
According to Rudston-Brown, he swung the club 1,236 times throughout the day while playing what amounted to an 18-hole round every hour.
“It kind of feels like a broken record,” he said. “I felt like I hit 150 bunkers in the last round.”
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS affects a person’s motor neurons that carry messages to the muscles resulting in weakness and deterioration in arms, legs, mouth and throat. There is no known cure for the disease and patients are typically immobilized within two to five years.
During the first eight years the Golfathon for ALS raised over $869,000 and the PGA of B.C. is hoping to break the $1 million mark this year.
According to Wendy Toyer, executive director of the ALS Society of B.C., as a result of the Golfathon the organization has started programs for kids impacted by ALS, whether it is a parent or close family member diagnosed with the disease.
This year 27 children will be sent to camp for four days where they will have a chance to speak to counsellors and meet new friends dealing with similar situations. This creates a support system and an outlet for those affected by ALS.
“We appreciate the support we’ve gotten from Cory over the years and the PGA,” said Toyer.
