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By Justin Goulet

COVID-19 forces cancellation of Val Matteotti Italian Open golf tournament

May 22, 2020 | 9:04 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Another sporting event has been cancelled because of COVID-19.

The 25^th annual Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation’s Val Matteotti Italian Open golf tournament has been scrapped due to the pandemic. The event was set to take place on Wednesday, August 12.

In lieu of sponsorship, tournament patron Flora Matteotti has donated $10,000 to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation (CRHF).

“We’ve continued on with the Italian Open for the last number of years in memory of our late Tournament President, Val Matteotti,” said Jason VandenHoek, Executive Director of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, in a CRHF release.

“Supporting the Chinook Regional Hospital through the Italian Open was important to Val, and it continues to be a priority to Flora as well. We can’t thank her enough for this gift and the continued support of our hospital. She has assured us that Val Matteotti Ranches Ltd. will be back as our lead sponsor in the summer of 2021.”

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The Foundation noted that to date, the event has brought in 1.6 million dollars. The funds have remained in Lethbridge to help out the Chinook Regional Hospital.

“We are overwhelmingly grateful for the continued support of all our sponsors. In times of uncertainty such as these, the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation would not be able to continue serving the greatest needs of our healthcare services without your aid,” read the release from the CRHF.

“This event would not have made it the last 24 years without each and every one of you.”

The Foundation, in its release, also thanked the event’s organizing committee: Flora Matteotti, John Talerico, Tony Rose, Rocco Suriano, Shonna Lamb, and Jason VandenHoek.

For more, visit crhfoundation.ca.

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