You could not wipe the smile off the face of A Chance For Change founder Ivan Mardones on Friday June 2 at Hills Golf Course.
The non profit charity for men’s mental health’s ‘boys day out’ event was booked out in less than three days, with 72 amateur golfers taking to the greens to enjoy a break and raise funds to help tackle the stigma associated with men’s mental health and suicide.
The charity’s mantra is ‘speaking up is manning up’ and Mr Mardones gave a quick address on the shocking statistics related to suicide in Australia before the men piled into golf carts and teed off.
The charity raised funds primarily through the sale of t-shirts as well as a barbecue and celebrity tee-offs from former NRL Rookie TV show participant and current Tweed Heads Queensland Cup player Peter Lee and Gold Coast Titans squad member and Fijian international representative Ben Nakubuwai, as well as through corporate sponsorship of certain holes across the 18 hole Hills course.
Mr Mardones said to him the amount raised on the day, did not matter, as he said the day was about raising awareness and building a support network for mental health sufferers.
“This problem that we all face is a problem society has created, but what’s important is we as a society can fix it,” he said.
“I don’t care about what we raise, as long as we cover the day, what the day is about, that is what matters to me.”
RELATED COVERAGE: Chance for Change Golf Day
Local A Chance For Change Ambassador Nathan St Ledger said all funds raised would be put back into the charity to allow it to train its 23 member national team and stage more events.
“At this stage we are looking like raising over $5000 which will be put straight back into the charity,” he said.
“A massive thank you must go to all our sponsors, their support really helped us to make this day a reality.”
One of the golfers who took to the course was Jimboomba X Stadium’s Scott Bannan who said he was thrilled to get behind such a worthy cause.
“It’s just been a fantastic day to be a part of, it’s an important cause and a great charity, and as a local something I was really keen to support,” he said.
The charity sourced all their barbecue ingredients from local small businesses on the day and Mr Mardones said even while picking up the food items from local bakeries and butcher shop important conversations about the charity’s work were started with members of the Jimboomba community.
The charity can be found on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/acfcofficial2015/
