Helicopter drops golf balls in Bend fundraiser

If you saw a helicopter dropping thousands of golf balls from the sky in Bend Sunday, and wondered what that was all about — it was all for a good cause.

More than 4,000 golf balls rained down on Riverbend Park Sunday afternoon.

It was all a fundraiser for Wendy’s Wish, an organization supporting cancer patients during their treatment.

The numbered golf balls were sold for $5 apiece, and the closer the balls got to the center hole, the bigger prizes people were awarded.

A total of $10,000 in prizes were awarded to people who took part in the fundraiser.

The number of golf balls is short of the 5,000 goal that Wendy’s Wish was hoping to get, but they still were able to raise money for those in need.

“Last year alone, we supported 166 cancer patients,” said Albert Huntley, founder of Wendy’s Wish. “That’s over $35,000 in assistance. We also put $5,000 towards a cancer patient massage therapy program.”

The group this year will be giving $5,000 for the acupuncture therapy program.