It’s not everyday you see TADH’s Diagnostic Imaging and Cardiopulmonary Department dressed in 1980’s outfits and sporting side-ponytails.

That’s the look we got last week from the team when they posed for cameras behind a giant 1980’s Rubix Cube. The costumes and hairstyles are all to help raise awareness for the upcoming 9th Annual John P. Larche Charity Golf Classic, taking place on August 11th.

The theme for this year’s Classic, if you haven’t guessed already, is 1980’s Retro Gold.

Patricia Gaudreau, Acting Executive Director for the TADH Foundation, says going retro has been the theme for the last few tournaments, but this year’s 80’s theme holds a special significance for the Foundation.

“It’s been Retro Gold for the last three years,” Gaudreau says, “we’ve done 50’s and 60’s; we’ve done different eras. And this year is the 80’s era. Which is kind of fitting because John Larche made his big gold discovery in the 80’s.”

John P. Larche, the namesake for the Golf Tournament, was a major benefactor of the TADH, and was such a profound leader and loyal, generous supporter that the Hospital named an entire wing after him. The Timmins prospector is best known for being a part of the team that made the major Canadian gold discovery in the 1980’s–the Hemlo Deposit. This year’s Golf Classic will be raising money for the Foundation to buy new ventilators for the John. P. Larche Medical Imaging and Cardiopulmonary Department.

“This Golf Tournament,” Gaudreau said, “has raised more than $900,000 for our Diagnostic Imaging and Cardiopulmonary Department. So this year we’re going to hit the million, which is kind of exciting.”

This is the 9th year the TADH Foundation has hosted these fundraisers for medical equipment in the hospital.

“We’ve raised money for the Breast Wellness Centre, Bone Density Machine, portable X-Rays,” said Gaudreau, “and this year we’re raising money for ventilators. Our goal is $100,000. That’s our standard goal for this event. However, we’d like to raise more because we need five ventilators and they’re approximately $45,000 each.”

The Golf Classic hosts are looking for teams–foursomes–to come play on August 11th at Spruce Needles Golf Club. Gaudreau says serious golfers are welcome to play, but the tournament is mostly for fun.

“We’re looking for foursomes. This is the big push to get some teams in. Serious golfers can apply, however, they need not be serious golfers.”

The tournament ends with dinner and a silent auction.

Guy Guindon, the Diagnostic Imaging Manager at TADH, says the Foundation has been throwing this fundraiser for a long time, with the proceeds always going towards much-needed medical equipment. He says that even with such an important end goal for the Classic, the event itself is always lots of fun.

“This event is a fun event, “Guindon said, “everybody has a good time. There’s not very much professional golfers coming out. So, we have activities, games, events at many different holes to have some fun and have a great dinner. And everybody just come out, have a great time.”

The Golf Classic used to be a two day event but in recent years was cut back to one big Saturday golf tournament. Every year the event raises at least $100,000 and has raised up to $183,000.

This year the TADH Foundation is proud to have Dolores Larche, John P. Larche’s wife, on the board as the title sponsor. This year’s Golf Classic has already raised over $70,000 in sponsorships. Now they just need teams for the big day.

Patricia Gaudreau sums it up perfectly.

“Come out and play. It’s all for a good cause.”