Strokes for Hope duo win international award

Nov 11, 2010

Photo: courtesy of Krista Fazackerley

Culminating their three-year effort in support of the redevelopment of the Cancer Centre at Kingston General Hospital, the Strokes Fore Hope golfing duo of Edward Goodfellow, 26, and Andrew Fazackerley, 23, made their final cheque presentation to representatives from the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, KGH and the Cancer Centre of South Eastern Ontario at the Watkins Lobby at KGH on November 3. The final cheque in the amount of $58,500 brings their three-year total to $108,000.

For three consecutive summers Andrew and Edward participated in three 24-hour golfing marathons that took place at the Rivendell Golf Club in Verona, and with the help of a government initiative that matched their donations 9:1, the two young men have managed to raise over $1 million for the Cancer Centre.

Edward Goodfellow addressed the crowd gathered in the Watkins lobby and spoke about Strokes for Hope, an idea he dreamed up while on a family golfing trip. “Though Strokes Fore Hope will be no more, the memories will definitely stay in our hearts forever. Strokes for Hope has definitely changed us and made us realize that nothing is impossible,” he said.

He thanked the event sponsors, Corus Entertainment, Rivendell Golf Club, Krista Fazackerley, the generosity of the donors and of course, his best friend Andrew.

Edward's mother Cathy Goodfellow, who was instrumental in organizing the three-year fundraising event, spoke next and thanked the community, their sponsors and staff at the Cancer Clinic and the Hospital Foundation for all of their inspiration and support.

Addressing her son and his best friend Andrew she said, “These two have dug deeper than even I thought possible and have accomplished something truly amazing.”

When asked about their initial motivation for starting up the event, Edward responded, “The cause is one that I have always been really passionate about. We just really wanted to try to make a difference, and after touring the new facilities here and seeing what a difference they are making in so many people’s lives, it has really made this all extremely worth while.”

“Everyone has been affected by cancer in their lives in one way or another so it just made sense to us to try to do our bit to help out,” Andrew added.

Edward said they decided to bring the event to an end because “we have always made public our $1 million goal and we have reached that goal so we are just really happy to be stepping down on a real high note.”

That high note was later topped when immediately following the cheque presentation Michelle Miatello, president of the South Eastern chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), an organization that honoured Edward and Andrew for their volunteerism in the community last November, announced that the two young men had recently been chosen from a list of hundreds of nominees world-wide as winners of the “Changing Our World/Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Ages 18-23”.

The announcement was a complete surprise to Edward and Andrew and they were overwhelmed by the honour.

The award will be presented to Edward and Andrew in March at the AFP International Conference that will take place in Chicago.

Miatello then read a letter from AFP president and CEO Paulette Mahara, which said, in part, “Philanthropy knows no age limit and Edward and Andrew have proven that everyone can make a difference if they are truly inspired. We are honoured to be able to recognize them for their extraordinary work.”