By Kathleen Smith
Another beautiful day of golf is in the books, and another successful golf tournament for the Hunter Costello Memorial Fun-dation (HCMF).
On July 13 the sixth annual HCMF golf tournament raised $16,500, which will go a long way towards helping local families in the community. The tournament hosted 27 teams and 106 golfers.
Inspired by a brave and kind little boy the HCMF was born in April 2017. The HCMF raises funds to provide financial relief to families with ill or injured children in the community.
With help from fundraising events such as the annual golf tournament, the HCMF has donated over $55,000 to local families.
Ken Costello of the HCMF said that the foundation is lucky to have a great support group, and that without family, friends and volunteers their fundraising efforts would not be successful.
This year at the tournament, the snack table volunteers were one of the families the foundation donates to.
Additionally, this is the first year the tournament sold out of all sponsorship positions.
Ten years ago, this past June, Hunter Costello was first diagnosed with cancer. The Costello family has been down similar paths to several of the families the foundation donates to.
“We will never forget the challenges we faced during his three-year battle,” lamented Ken and Catherine Costello.
“We’re also never forget the support – both emotional and financial – that this community gave us during some of our toughest days. We just want to pay it forward.”
The Costello family wishes they could do more, but helping relieve financial stress so parents can be with their child or paying for an important piece of equipment to improve a child’s life is all the inspiration they need.
In the last seven years the HCMF donated $100,000 to families, $50,000 to the playground in Goderich, and $15,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of London.
The HCMF has helped pay for many items to better the lives of local children. This includes ceiling lifts, bathroom renovations, cochlear implants, and most recently, a specialized mattress.
The Costello family and the HCMF is proud of what has been accomplished these last seven years and are thankful for those who have helped along the way.
“We miss Hunter tremendously, but the work of the fun-dation helps ease the pain,” admitted Ken and Catherine.
“Hunter, I know you would be proud of us. He would be proud that we took his tragedy and made something positive out of it. Those who share our grief understand that the love never stops. He has meant the world to us since the day he was born, and that still rings true today, just in a different way.”
In addition to the annual golf tournament, the HCMF also hosts a pro wrestling fundraising event. This year the wrestling fundraiser will take place on October 19 at Goderich Memorial Arena at 6 p.m. BBQ and silent auction start at 4 p.m.
Entry fee for the October 19 event is by donation.
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