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By Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent

Mike Weir enjoyed the 10-year run he and NHL player Dino Ciccarelli had while hosting an annual charity golf tournament in their native Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, but he always had bigger plans, just like he has as one of the fiercest competitors on the PGA TOUR.

Mike Weir is pleased by the proceeds generated for the Children's Miracle Network. (WireImage)

"I was a little bit frustrated, because I wanted to make a much greater impact," Weir, the former Masters champion, says. "I think things evolve over time, whether it's your golf game or things in your life. I wanted to make more of a difference. I wanted to do more from a nationwide standpoint, if I could. I wanted to raise more money."

Weir, 37, saw his efforts rewarded immediately earlier this week with the inaugural Mike Weir Miracle Drive for Kids, which was held at Sunningdale Golf Club in London, Ontario. The event was held to benefit both the local London Children's Hospital as well as the other 13 Children's Miracle Network hospitals across Canada.

The PGA TOUR veteran and tournament organizers had hoped to raise close to $500,000, so imagine how much satisfaction Weir felt when the initiative raised $562,000. Proceeds go to Children's Health Foundation to help build the new Children's Hospital of Western Ontario in London. Children's Health Foundation is a member of Children's Miracle Network.

The forerunner to this event, the Children's Golf Classic, raised less than $200,000 a year ago.

"It's incredible. I'm at a loss for words," said Weir, whose previous charitable event raised about $60,000 annually. "My hope for the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive For Kids was that we would be able to build on it each year, seeing more and more Canadians participating, so that somewhere down the road we would be raising this kind of money for Children's Miracle Network hospitals across the country. Everyone in London set the bar very high and my wife, Bricia, and I are grateful. They showed everyone, including myself, just what we can achieve when we all team up to assist children who need our help."

The event actually began Sunday night when about 700 people attended a dinner and met with Weir and 20 children from London Children's Hospital. Highlights of the evening included Mike presenting special commissioned medals to each child in recognition of their triumphs against their medical struggles. A silent and live auction followed. A round with Weir was among the items bid upon. Monday's tournament featured 288 golfers on both Sunningdale courses.

"What an exciting start for the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive For Kids initiative," said John Hartman, Chief Operating Officer, Children's Miracle Network, Canada. "With Mike's help, and the combined passion to help children in communities across Canada, we knew the possibilities were endless, but (Monday)'s event shows everyone across the country what we can achieve."

The Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive For Kids is designed to bring together individuals, sponsors and golf courses in united nationwide fundraising events to benefit the 14 hospitals that make up the Children's Miracle Network in Canada. Information about the program can be found on its website, www.mikeweirmiraclegolfdrive.ca, which encourages golfers and non-golfers alike to participate in a variety of year-round activities, including on-line donations and pledge-based fundraising, to raise funds and awareness for Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

Winner of seven PGA TOUR titles and two international crowns, Weir has been working hard on his game, building a new swing, in hopes of playing on the International team in the Presidents Cup later this year in Quebec. But he is also focusing more on his charitable foundation, which focuses on children's causes, and he hopes to be equally successful in building that to something great.

"When you have a lot of good things in your life ... we have two healthy children and a lot to be thankful for," said Weir, who plans to play each year in a tournament in a different city where there is a children's hospital. "You meet with the children who will benefit from this, and they are just incredible. What they go through and how they persevere is an inspiration. We've always wanted to do more to help kids, and now we have this incredible opportunity.

"We're committed to doing as long as we possibly can. I have a great team, and I think this is the kind of thing I've been looking for to really make a difference."