Saskatchewan’s optometrists can do more than take care of your vision health – they can dance and fundraise, too.

Saskatoon optometrist Dr. Courtney Kennedy was the winner of this year’s Swinging With The Stars competition in Saskatoon. The annual event pairs dancers with local community leaders to raise money for the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation.

Dr. Kennedy and her dance partner Jordan Williams were named the champions of the 2022 Ens Auto Swinging With The Stars after raising $44,750 in support of the foundation.

“It feels amazing,” Dr. Kennedy said. “Probably the biggest event I’ve been involved in since optometry school.”

Dr. Kennedy, who owns and operates an optometric clinic in Saskatoon, said she was a little nervous about getting into the competition because she has a lot more experience as an optometrist than as a dancer.

But the opportunity to raise money for an important health care institution in the community was too good to pass up.

“I am involved with a number of other charities, but nothing like this,” she said. “I can’t even explain how incredible it is that I was able to give back to the community and my patients.”

The Swinging With The Stars competition has two different winners: the “Champions” of the event are the pair that raises the most money, and a “Judge’s Choice” dance routine is selected the night of the competition.

As Dr. Kennedy put it, she focused her energy on raising money as much as she could.

“I knew I wasn’t going to win (the dance competition),” Dr. Kennedy said with a laugh. “So I knew I wanted to fundraise a lot.”

Dr. Kennedy completed her study of optometry at the University of Waterloo in 2014 before returning to her hometown of Saskatoon. While practicing optometry is a core part of her professional life, Dr. Kennedy said doctors need to be involved in the communities they practice in.

It’s one of the biggest reasons she chose to take part in the competition – and after taking home the championship, she has zero regrets stepping out of her comfort zone for the fundraiser.

“I think we, as doctors, are only as good as the community we serve. I think at the end of the day it is our obligation to give back in any way we can.” she said.

And this year the money raised has much more direct effect on Dr. Kennedy and her patients – proceeds from this year’s fundraiser are being allocated to the purchase of equipment at the Saskatoon City Hospital’s Eye Care Centre, which delivers a wide variety of ophthalmological care to patients.

“This particular fundraiser, I chose to do because it directly benefits my patients,” Dr. Kennedy said. “I refer patients to the Eye Care Centre every single month. I helped make that place a better place. It’s such an amazing feeling.”