Golf tourney raises funds for clinical trials at The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa business community hit the links recently in support of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation at the sixth annual Golf Quest 4 Clinical Trials.

This year’s event at the Canadian Golf and Country Club raised $1.25 million to fund research at the hospital. 

“It’s just the best golf day of the year, as far as we’re concerned,” said golf tournament chair Greg Moore. “We had 180 golfers, 16 NHL alumni and a lot of happy faces.”

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Golf Quest 4 Clinical Trials was founded in 2017 with the goal of raising $10 million in 10 years. Thanks to support from the community, money raised has already totalled nearly $9 million, putting the organization within striking distance of reaching its goal three years ahead of schedule.

The fundraising organization said it is able to achieve high levels of funding by leveraging the money it collects from golfers on a 10:1 ratio, with additional support from various levels of government and granting agencies. 

“So if we raise $10, there are other matching patrons, sponsors and donors that will match that amount times 10, and that’s how we’re able to raise this kind of money,” said Moore.

The Ottawa Hospital conducts over 700 clinical trials a year, assisting more than 9,000 patients. A clinical trial comes into play when a doctor has exhausted standard treatments. A novel, experimental treatment could offer life-saving results.

“The key thing with clinical trials is that they’re not government-funded,” Moore said. “It’s only through the private sector, through fundraising foundations and research grants. But that only covers about 60 per cent of the money needed to support clinical trials and that’s why tournaments like (Golf Quest 4 Clinical Trials) are so important.”

As golfers sat down to dinner, they heard from oncologist Mark Clemons and cancer survivor Patrick Morris, who experienced firsthand the life-saving power of a clinical trial.

The night was capped off by a live auction hosted by Ryan E. Watson that racked up thousands of dollars in additional donations.