Westman Dreams for Kids is well familiar with golf-based fundraisers by now; their annual tournament in July draws huge crowds every year. But for 2026, they tried something a little different and it quickly paid off.
Shanks Driving Range and Grill hosted teams sponsored by businesses from around Brandon on Friday, May 1 as they got together for a day of virtual golf in support of Westman Dreams. As has been the case with other events they put on, there was excellent turnout.
“It’s been a great day,” said Danna Rudniski, Foundation Co-Ordinator. “This was our first annual so we weren’t sure what to expect but we’re so happy we’ve had the teams we’ve had. It’s beautiful outside and the sun is shining, we couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
Rudniski admitted that in the days and weeks leading up to the event she was a little nervous about whether people would take to it the way they have taken to other events they’ve put on. It turned out she need not have worried.
“You never really know until you get the first one under your belt and it kind of keeps you up at night thinking of how everything might go,” Rudniski said. “Shanks has been wonderful, very generous and gracious with this building. This time of year, people are excited to shake off the winter and get outside and do things, and why not do it when you’re also raising money for kids in the WestMan area?”
There are some common misconceptions about the work Westman Dreams does that Rudniski wanted to clear up. Firstly, that children do not necessarily have to be terminally ill to receive help from the foundation, and secondly that the dreams they help children and families realize come in all shapes and sizes.
“It can be as simple as helping families with travel to Winnipeg, which can get a little costly,” Rudniski said. “Custom bikes for kids who are maybe unable to ride your regular sort of bicycle, we customize them to fit their needs, appointments that aren’t covered by Manitoba Health like special eye appointments, and of course, the big dreams like going to an Edmonton Oilers game or going to Disney, families taking the trip down to Disney as well.”
Custom bikes are actually among the dreams they’re working toward raising funds for right now. But there are also families who, once their treatment allows for it, will be going to Disney. And the support they’ve consistently received makes achieving those dreams all the more likely.
“These first annual ones, you get a little nervous about, you don’t know what to expect,” said Rudniski. “But seeing everyone out here having a good time, swinging their clubs, the music is playing, it’s a beautiful day, and we can’t ask for anything better than this. We look forward to having more.”
