There are only a few spots left for golfers looking to take part in the 5th annual Memorial Tournament of Aces this Oct. 6 at the Links of GlenEagles.
Aptly named ‘Five for 5’, this year’s charity tourney, which raises funds through the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation for other charities, will be breaking waves this year, as the annual fundraiser is splitting the proceeds among five charities: the Cochrane Activettes, Cochrane Family and Community Support Services, Cochrane and Area Victim Services, The Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Boma la Mama — a birthing centre project located near Arusha, Tanzania.
This is also where the Kimmetts’ late daughter, Lindsay, who passed away in an untimely car accident in 2008, did some of her work as a medical student in 2007, prior to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
“Our 5th charity is the Boma la Mama Tanzanian birthing and midwifery education centre,” explained Kelly Kimmett.
“Founded by Lawrence and Leesha Mafuru (Leesha was one of Lindsay’s former classmates), this area of Tanzania is where Lindsay worked in hospitals and clinics in the summer of 2007. Our fundraising this Saturday will save lives, babies and mothers, for years to come in Lindsay’s name.”
Leesha Mafuru, a Cochranite, registered midwife and co-founder of Boma la Mama (which translates to ‘home of the mother’) has been making significant progress over the last several months in fundraising efforts that will get their centre up and running.
“We’ve made an agreement with the village government that if we build a Kindergarten and a small bridge, they will give us a large piece of land for Boma la Mama’s centre,” explained Mafuru, adding that her husband, Lawrence is gearing up to break the record for Kilimanjaro’s fastest ascent next September to raise funds for the centre.
Recent efforts also include expanding their medical team and taking part in the African Culture Gala in Edmonton; the centre will also be the 2012 recipient of raised monies from the annual Used Toy & Clothing Sale, which takes place at the Cochrane RancheHouse from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 13.
“This year’s overall goal is to raise at least $75,000 for our ‘Five for 5’ charities and perhaps a bonus of $10,000-$15,000 from a very special live auction item for the Boma la Mama foundation,” said Kelly.
For Leesha Mafuru, being one of the selected charities is great news.
“We made an informal request to the Kimmett Foundation to be a beneficiary...it was such great news when Kelly let us know they had chosen us,” said Mafuru.
Last year’s tourney raised $85,000 for the LINDSAY Project at the University of Calgary School of Medicine.
To learn more, visit lindsaykimmett.org; visit bomalamama.com to learn more about the birthing and midwifery centre.
