The money raised from this years’ event is being directed towards the purchase of 16 new heart monitor defibrillators and other areas of greatest need, such as infection control units and an automated slide stainer for the Yarmouth Regional Hospital lab, says Mary Surette, development officer with the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, organizers of this annual fundraising golf tournament.
Since the inception of this golf tournament, more than $325,000 has been raised to purchase hospital equipment. Last year’s event raised $36,733 and saw 35 teams take part. The event also relies heavily on the support of sponsors.
“It’s an event that pulls a lot of the community together. It’s for a great cause, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. The sponsors in this town step up and make this event world-class,” Jody Shelley had said during last year’s event.
“Any time you’re in a position to help your community it’s exciting,” he said more recently. “I am really looking forward to being back in Yarmouth County and being involved with this great event.”
Although Shelley only moved to Yarmouth in his teenage years when his father worked with the Rio Algom tin mine, he always refers to Yarmouth as his hometown.
Shelley played minor hockey in Yarmouth and also played in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. In Mooseheads fan polls he is still always voted one of the all-time favourite players. He eventually went on to play in the
NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the San Jose Sharks, the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers. He retired as a player with the NHL in August 2013 and rejoined the Columbus Blue Jackets organization as a broadcast associate and team ambassador.
Shelley has a street in Yarmouth named after him in recognition of his contributions to this community. Jody Shelley Drive brings people to the Mariners Centre, who address is 45 Jody Shelley Drive – the jersey number Shelley wore in the NHL.
Since last year’s golf tournament, Shelley has also been inducted into the Yarmouth Town and County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place in May. Shelley couldn’t be at the ceremony in person but he joined the event via Skype.
“Character is built at a young age and I believe that,” Shelley told the audience. “When I lived in Yarmouth, I got the skills I needed to go out into the world.
“It’s always tremendous. It’s a great character community, I’m proud to call it home,” he also told the Vanguard “There’s a lot of good people here and that’s what makes it such a nice town.”
