Tournament History

OUR HISTORY

The roots of the Craig Simpson Never Say… “Never” Golf Classic is deeply embedded in Family, Friends and Community. Back in the late 1980’s, the lives of the Pearce family from Sherwood Park would change forever. Their young son Brett, an avid hockey player would dive for a puck during a game, and collide with the goaltender. Brett’s life as well as the lives of those around him would forever change. Living life with a severe spinal cord injury was a sudden reality. The Pearce family now had to deal with their son in a wheelchair, and a whole new set of circumstances in life. A small, newly formed group called the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society (SCITCS) was a source of guidance, information and support during this most difficult time. Friends of the Pearce family looked to find ways to help them, and an idea of a fundraising event to support people with spinal cord injuries was born. With the support of the community around them and the Belvedere Country Club in Sherwood Park, they settled on a golf tournament to raise money for SCITCS, the group that had helped them in their time of need. Another young boy, Peter McGregor Jr., who had been injured in an accident and was now in a wheelchair served as an inspiration to the group as well. His family had turned to SCITCS and now his father Peter Sr. came on board as part of the committee to organize the tournament.

The challenges of putting on a successful event are great at the best of times, but with no experience in doing so, and no exposure for attracting people to attend, the group looked for help. I was approached to lend my name and support to their cause. It was the fall of 1988 and I had only been in Edmonton for just under a year. During my short time as an Oiler, I had been a charity spokesman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and helped raise money during the Jerry Lewis Telethon. One day at Oilers practice I was asked by one of our Assistant coaches Ted Green if I would have the time to help this small group attract some interest in their fundraising efforts. Ted had been injured badly back when he was a player. He was struck in the head by a stick, and was in a coma and was almost paralyzed. His brain was damaged, and he had to learn how to walk and talk all over again. During his time in hospital, he was on a ward with people who were paralyzed with various spinal cord injuries. He was appalled at the lack of attention that they received and how little help or activities there were for them.

Now when he was presented with the idea of the SCITCS golf tournament he was motivated to get involved and thought I would be able to help. I agreed that I would.

In the early years of the tournament, it was challenging to raise a significant amount of money, and most of the people who participated in the Aug. 1989 first event were friends of the Pearce and the McGregor’s. I think the first year we didn’t raise a lot of money, but put on a successful fun event. In the end I think we were able to present a cheque to the President of SCITCS, Louise Miller with about $7,000. The money helped support their worthy cause, but of most importance was the fact that we raised awareness of their existence. For anyone who has been injured in an accident, that is the first real challenge. Who do I turn to for help? That first year, we helped get the message out.

Over the years the tournament grew in popularity, as the community embraced our efforts. Our ability to attract sponsors also grew, and the amount of money that we raised increased. Despite the fact that in the 4th year of the tournament I was traded to Buffalo, the tournament continued. In 1995 when I retired and worked in Los Angeles, the community continued its support and a core group of committee members worked very hard to keep the tournament alive. When I returned to Edmonton in 1998 for good, we were 10 years strong, and were raising around $35,000 a year, but most importantly, we had significantly raised the awareness of the group.

At this time the ward treating people with spinal cord injuries had been moved to the new Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, and SCITCS had donated several computerized bikes, to the University of Alberta, that allowed people with a spinal cord injury ( SCI) to exercise their legs using applied functional electrical stimulation (FES), essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle The tournament now had its own life, the people who came and the people who volunteered their time and money all took ownership of the cause. As the money we raised continued to grow, we looked for more ways to help. We have continued to fund SCITCS allowing the society to promote awareness and to create opportunities for people with a SCI to enhance their quality of life by participating in FES research and FES exercise programs.

In 2002 we set up the Craig Simpson & Friends Charity Fund to try to raise more money to support a wide variety of other causes. Since 2002 on we have consistently raised over $100,000 per year at the event, and divided the proceeds between SCITCS and the Charity Fund. In 19 years SCITCS has received well over $700,000 for distribution to their efforts locally to provide support through education and research. In addition the Craig Simpson & Friends Charity Fund has donated over $200,000 to various local charities such as the Cross Cancer Institute, the Alberta Heart Institute, the Zebra Child Care Centre, Juvenile Diabetes, the Mustard Seed Church, the WINGS of Providence shelter for battered women, the MS Society and the Christmas Bureau to name but a few.

In Edmonton there are so many worthy causes to support, and the list of charity golf tournaments are a mile long, but somehow, this tournament with humble beginnings has lasted 20 years and is going strong.

The reason for the tournament’s success I think it gets back to the core values that I mentioned previously.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, COMMUNITY

The tournament has come full circle. It started with a Family dealing with a tragedy. Their Friends all wanted to find a way to help. The Community rallied around them and lent their support. The legacy has been that through all of those parties’ efforts, we have been able to keep bringing more and more people into our cause.

The committee members who now drive the success of the tournament were members of the Community. They came together for a common cause and became Friends. Through their efforts, their energy and their passion they made the tournament and its worthy cause their own, and treat the people involved in it like Family.

For me, my interest in helping SCITCS and people with spinal cord injuries lies in the inherent relationship between our bodies and our quality of life. As a professional athlete, my body helped take me to places that I always dreamed of. Getting a chance to play in the National Hockey League and to skate around the ice holding the Stanley Cup over my head are things that are forever embedded in my mind, and changed my life forever.

My body however, also failed me, and with the back injuries that I sustained while playing, and the pain and suffering I went through at the end of my playing days, I will never take for granted how valuable the health of my body is.

I had to retire from hockey at the age of 28, well before my mind or my abilities had failed me. My back could no longer withstand the demands of being an NHL player. During my last season, the pain of trying to play was so great that even sitting on a chair for short periods of time was too painful, and lying on the ground with my legs in the air was the only relief of the pain. Holding my young children in my arms was almost impossible.

Playing the game I loved at that level would no longer be possible, but continuing to live my life was. All I did was stop playing hockey, and after a few years, the pain that I was experiencing would stop as well. I was fortunate, my mind was still sharp, my desire was still there but my body couldn’t keep up. It could however, still function. It was my choice to retire. I still can walk, can run, can jump, can drive, can carry my children, and can live my life. Sure, it’s not the same life, but it’s not all that different.

For Brett Pearce, Peter McGregor, and for other young men and women whom I have met over the years like Aaron Moser, Darin Wood, Carla Tabler and thousands like them, the same cannot be said. Life for them will never be the same. Life for their Family, their Friends, their Community, will never be the same. Imagine if you will having the same passions, desires, emotions and dreams that you do right now, but not having the ability to get your body to move or respond to those wishes! If I can play a part in making their life better, I will. If I can make a difference in their quality of life, I will. If I can help fund advancement in research and treatments, I will. With so many exciting developments in science and treatment of spinal cord injuries, a cure in our lifetime is possible. If I can help people have hope, and like the SCITCS slogan says, to Never Say… “Never.”

I will.

One of the things we have given out to sponsors and committee members over the years to say thanks are plaques with the following reading inscribed on it.

While living our busy lives,
we often take for granted some
of the simplest things.
The ability to take a walk in the park,
to swing a golf club, the dignity
of being able to take care of our own needs.
Over the years your contributions
and support of SCITCS
has empowered many people
to live better lives and to
Never Say… “Never”

Hopefully this helps put the last 20 years in context, and will in someway help us chart the course for the next 20.

Sincerely, Craig Simpson