Chad Keens has been the golf pro and clubhouse manager at Meota and District Lakeside Golf Course for nine years.
This summer he lost his left leg below the knee due to undiagnosed diabetes. Keens was unable to return to work following the surgery. His friends and supporters gathered at the Meota Complex Sept. 27 for a benefit dinner and silent auction. The 180 attendees bought 125 auction items for $9,760. Dinner tickets, the 50/50 draw, bar proceeds, donations through fundrazr.com and other cash donations brought the total raised to more than $20,000.
Keens was unable to attend the event, organized by community volunteers, due to medical commitments. He wants to express his heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed in any way.
"It was very overwhelming for me and shocking. My family was extremely emotional that night as we received several updates during the night from texts and our phone rang off the hook," Keens says in an email.
"I feel so humbled and my family is extremely indebted to the people of that night."
The golf pro has returned to his hometown of Moose Jaw and will be fitted for his prosthesis mid-October. He will then be at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina five days a week learning how to walk again.
