SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Organizers of the RCMP Children's Wish Charity Golf Tournament have decided to change the name of the annual event to honor a fallen hero.

Next year it will be known as the RCMP Chris Worden Memorial Charity Golf Tournament for next year's fundraising activities in Yellowknife.

Constable Chris Worden holds his daughter Alexis in Hay River. He was shot and killed while on duty last year. - photo courtesy of Michelle Thom

Const. Christopher Worden was killed in the line of duty at the age of 30 in Hay River on Oct. 6, 2007. He was shot three times while responding to a call.

The trial of a suspect charged in connection with the crime is still ongoing.

"Chris was a good friend, a good colleague and an excellent police officer; probably one of the finest I've ever had chance to work with," said Sergeant Ken Morrison, president of the RCMP charity golf tournaments.

"We wanted some way to make his name live on, in memory of Chris," he explained.

The funds raised at the tournament will be given to the Children's Wish Foundation.

Children's Wish Foundation works to grant wishes of children coping with high-risk, life-threatening illness.

Trevor Eagles, fund raising co-ordinator for Alberta and NWT, said the contribution of funds raised by organizations and groups like the RCMP have made tremendous impacts, brightening the lives of many children.

"Sometimes these wishes really turn out to be as amazing as the kids themselves," said Eagles.

He remembers hearing the news about the death of Worden.

"It was a shocking event," he said.

He said the foundation is honored and humbled for the money raised in Yellowknife by the RCMP.

"I know the role that Chris played in the community was a strong one, and the Children's Wish Foundation is very grateful to be connected with his memory," said Eagles.

Morrison said renaming the event after Worden is a fitting tribute.

He said Worden was very community-minded and very athletic.

Morrison said Worden loved children and he was very involved with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program - a program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence.

"Anyone who worked with Chris knows he loved kids. He worked very well with them," said Morrison."You could see the love he had with his own child, Alexis, and I think he would be very happy that we've done this in his name." said Morrison.

The June golf tournament raised almost $30,000 this year for the Children's Wish Foundation.

Along with other fundraising activities, RCMP efforts have raised more than $150,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation over the past 10 years.

This year, the money raised by the golf tournament was offered to the foundation in the name of Alexis Worden - in memory of her father.

Jodie Worden, the widow of Worden, couldn't be reached for comment, but Morrison said she seemed very pleased with the idea when he informed her of the charity's desire to rename the event in memory of her husband.