The 6th annual charity golf tournament organised by Fiji’s Coral Coast hoteliers has raised more than FJD$70,000 towards an upgrade of the operating theatre at the Sigatoka District Hospital.

Organizer of the Fiji Chemical Sigatoka District Hospital Charity Golf Day, Chairman of the Coral Coast Hotels Association and Outrigger Fiji GM, Peter Hopgood, said the latest fundraising effort was a fantastic result for the local community.

“The money raised this year will be used to upgrade the operating theatre so that we can attract surgeons from overseas to better treat the residents of the local Nadroga province,” he said.

“We are currently working with the hospital and the Health Ministry to achieve that in 2018.”

Held at the Natadola Golf Course on November 26th, the event was keenly contested by senior Coral Coast hoteliers and heads of business who over the years have been responsible for raising significant funds to make life changing improvements at the hospital, including the construction of a Maternity Ward which opened in 2015.

Proceeds from the event have also funded a FJD$240,000 helipad for the hospital.

“To date, six lives have been saved because they have been able to be transported quickly by air from the helipad and that’s the kind of thing that we want to help with, that we want to be a part of,” Hopgood said.

“I encourage everyone to get involved with the community because it’s so rewarding and it’s a win for everyone.

“It’s good for the hotels, for the greater community and for the guests for when they come and visit, they get involved as well,” he said.

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management