Mike King inspires golfers and visitors
By Kevin Milroy
This tournament was the initiative of Eric Pilling, a Country Member of our Purangi Club. Eric has been hosting a Tennis Tournament on Waiheke Island for a number of years with the I AM HOPE Foundation being the beneficiary of funds raised. He proposed we do something similar.
I AM HOPE aims to promote positive attitudinal societal change around mental health throughout New Zealand, offering hope and a voice to young people.
The Purangi Club Committee had no hesitation in approving the concept and Mercury Bay Golf Club also came onboard to host the event for the second day at their course. As a result, Purangi Golf Club has adopted The I Am Hope Foundation (Gumboot Friday) as our charity of choice because of its amazing help to our kids and the fact that 100% of our donation goes directly to the kids.
What eventuated then was The Purangi Golf and Country Club along with the Mercury Bay Golf Club co-hosted a fund-raising golf tournament over the weekend of the 15 and16 October, with the funds raised to be for the I Am Hope Foundation.
The weekend included an auction of donated items including luxury accommodation, prime tickets to Eden Park, golf rounds at Kauri Cliffs and Royal Auckland, original prints from NZ Artists, Hahei Tourist attractions amongst others. $6,000 was paid to send one of the needy kids on an 'Outward Bound' course. Mercury Bay offered 50% of funds raised by auctioning off a donated full set of clubs with golf bag, and a further $1,000 was raised at the prize giving on the Sunday afternoon.
Mike King, the Founder of the Foundation, gave a rousing talk before the auction which was very empowering and impressed many of us locals along with our Auckland visitors. One of his famous 'gumboots' sold for $500.
In total, including entry fees and the auction, a total of $39,630 was raised for our kids.
The weekend included entertainment, good food and two rounds of golf for 40 players, many being visitors from Auckland along with entertainment. The Aucklanders were so impressed by the Coromandel hospitality that, to a person, they intend to line up again next year.
The plan is to host this event on an annual basis.
To find out more, ring Kevin on 021629665.
“I am dedicated to driving a positive change in societal attitudes towards mental health and ensuring a better future for our young people.” Kahlia McDougall.
Caption: Mike King, Founder of ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, at Purangi, along with ‘Team Victory’ from Auckland.