ROCHELLE — Eighty two golfers took to Fairways Golf Course in Rochelle Monday for the Rochelle Community Hospital golf outing. 

The event is in its 21st year and had about 15 more golfers than it did last year. Last year, the event had to be pushed from August to September to allow for more attendees due to COVID-19 guidelines. The outing committee ended up liking the date, so it stayed in September. 

"The funding comes from our sponsorships and day-of-event things we do like the raffle prizes, ”RCH’s Michelle LaPage said. “Every year our committee and foundation board pick a different thing to fund or help at the hospital. This year, we're going to be designating the money to be used towards a community screening. We'll be advertising that later through the hospital and working with our lab to be able to provide low-cost screenings for the community."

LaPage said after the stress of working during the pandemic the event is a “nice break” for RCH’s management team to be out and get to talk and mingle with vendors or people from the community that they know. 

“It's always really well-received,” LaPage said. “We thank everybody for their support of the event."

Debbie Kersten and Stephanie Crawford were set up at hole one at Fairways representing the RCH Foundation. Kersten said the outing brings the community together and has been a great fundraiser over the years. 

Crawford said the purpose of the foundation and outing is to support the hospital and its needs. 

"Bringing people from the community together,” Crawford said. “Bringing people from even outside of the community to bring recognition to what the foundation does. What the hospital does. I think that's the importance of the golf outing."