The 2017 Aspirus Women’s Golf Classic was held on August 7 at Wausau Country Club and the event raised $94,000 in support of an important community need.

More than 250 golfers, caddies and volunteers partnered with Aspirus, businesses and community members to raise funds for the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

The money raised will support the SANE program at Aspirus Wausau Hospital which serves women, children, and men in north central Wisconsin,” said SANE program coordinator Lynn Senfelds, RN. “Our role is to provide quality medical, psychological and forensic care needs, while doing everything we can to support them in any way they need.”

“We are so grateful to the community members and sponsors who joined us in supporting the Aspirus Health Foundation to advance the SANE program for our community,” said Kalynn Pempek, executive director of the Aspirus Health Foundation.

In the past year, Aspirus advanced its SANE program by:
•Training six emergency department nurses in SANE through the Wisconsin Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nursing (WI-IAFN).
•Purchasing a specialized exam chair, UV light, and other specialized forensic equipment and supplies to improve evidence collection and documentation of injuries.
•Obtaining a specialized, digital forensic imaging camera for use during examinations
•Establishing a new, private Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) room to provide care for victims with comfort and dignity.
•Caring for more than two dozen victims who sought help through the SANE program AWH.