2023 Exceptional Fundraising Program Award (3rd Party Event) – Individual Award

Hope in Action: Rhonda Snook’s Annual Golf Event Supports ALS Research

Recipient of the 2023 ALS Society of BC Exceptional Fundraising Program Award
(3rd Party Event) – Individual Award – Rhonda Snook from North Central Island, BC.

RICHMOND, British Columbia – The purpose of this award is to evaluate and recognize excellence in fundraising programs implemented during the previous 12 months. This award recognizes an individual or project team who has demonstrated excellence in fundraising. An exceptional program develops an innovative idea and attains or exceeds a fundraising goal. This can be a new or continuing program.

Rhonda coordinated the Paul Hemmingway Memorial Golf tournament in Comox. This year she raised $18,223 for PROJECT HOPE. Rhonda has pledged to make this an annual event. 2023 was the third tournament.

“I organize the Paul Hemmingway Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser because my friend Paul, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2019, asked if my husband and I would be interested. We hold the event at The Park at Crown Isle in Comox. Paul wanted a fun golf tournament for ALS as the Society supported him and his partner in many ways during his journey, including equipment, counselling, and group meetings. 

We had the 1st tournament in June 2020 and Paul was able to participate in this one while driving around in his electric wheelchair. We had 14 friends (participants). When Paul passed away we continued to do the fundraiser as he requested. We have 72 participants, and this September will be the 5th tournament. I feel proud that I can carry on this tradition for Paul. Our group of golfers and other community members, including our major sponsor, Craig Skene from CTS-Coastal Transportation and Storage, have been very generous with donations to ALS Society of BC.

I asked Paul’s partner, Kim, why she wanted the funds directed to PROJECT HOPE. She replied that when Paul was diagnosed, there wasn’t any hope. But with PROJECT HOPE, they move to offer clinical trials, and this leads to hope, and hope is what you hang on to.

So, I fundraise because I would like to think I help by offering less worry and more hope to people who need it.” said Rhonda Snook.

“Rhonda lost her friend Paul Hemmingway to ALS in 2020. When Paul was diagnosed with ALS, he immediately mobilized to raise funds for the ALS Society of BC. The annual Paul Hemmingway Memorial Golf Tournament, organized by Rhonda Snook, keeps Paul’s memory alive. Her hard work has grown the tournament to a full 144 golfers. Proceeds from the tournament go to research through PROJECT HOPE.  We are very grateful for this outstanding support to help end ALS.” said Wendy Toyer, Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC. 

Rhonda Snook’s award was presented at a “Celebration of Volunteerism and Service” ceremony hosted by the ALS Society of BC on Tuesday, April 9^th, 2024, in Richmond, BC.

Download logos and a high-resolution photo of the award recipient here.

About ALS BC: The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of British Columbia (ALS BC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Andrew Eisen, ALS patients and family members to meet the physical and emotional needs of people living with ALS and their caregivers. Our mission is to cure ALS through funding research, while advocating for and supporting people living with ALS. 

About ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects the person’s motor neurons that carry messages to the muscles resulting in weakness and wasting in arms, legs, mouth, throat and elsewhere. Typically, the person is immobilized within two to five years of the initial diagnosis. There is no known cause or cure yet, but there is hope through the ALS Society of BC.

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