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Golf pro hits the links to help raise money for ALS

Cottonwood Golf Course professional Winston Michell will play a day-long game June 19 to raise money for ALS.

Nanaimo golf pro Winston Michell is chipping in to the fight against ALS.

Michell, the head professional at Cottonwood Golf Course, will be on the links from dawn until dusk on June 19 for the ninth annual PGA of B.C. Golf-A-Thon for ALS.

The event aims to raise money to support patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal and incurable neuromuscular disease. Currently there are 400 people in B.C. affected by ALS and 30 in central Vancouver Island.

“I love the fact that the PGA is involved ... [I’m] happy with the way the funds are distributed and I think it’s a great cause,” said Michell, of the golf-a-thon. “I do hope that people take the time to stop by the golf shop and pledge a donation to the fundraiser.”

Michell, who lost his friend Mike Pellatt to the disease a number of years ago, hopes to raise more than $1,000 for the ALS Society of B.C. This will be his first time participating in the golf-a-thon.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too tough,” he said about playing the course from dawn until dusk. “But I might be sore for the following next couple of days.”

Donations can be made in person at the pro shop at Cottonwood Golf Course, near the Nanaimo Airport, or online at www.golfathonforals.ca.

Brett Standerwick, a golf pro at Fairwinds Golf Club, will participate in the golf-a-thon for his sixth year with an event June 18.

The provincewide event has raised more than $800,000 for ALS programs and research since it started in 2005.