Gateshead Trio Take On Big Golf Challenge To Fundraise For Prostate Cancer UK
Three colleagues from the Gateshead office of motor retailer Vertu ‘putt’ in the effort to help raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK after completing a 72-hole golf challenge
Rhys O'Donohoe, Nick Mason, and Paul Kent raised over £1,000 for the charity, which supports lifesaving research in prostate cancer – a disease that is now the most diagnosed cancer in England, affecting 1 in 8 men.
Starting at 5:30AM the trio played 72 holes, walking more than 30 miles between holes (and to fetch errant shots) at Houghton Le Spring Gold Club, which had kindly donated use of the course for the charity fundraiser.
The event was part of Prostate Cancer UK’s The Big Golf Race initiative launched in 2020. It has become the biggest golf fundraising challenge in the UK, with more than 14,400 golfers raising over £4.5m to help fund life-saving research to radically improve the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Rhys O'Donohoe, Divisional F&I Manager at Vertu, said: “We all work in the automotive trade, and you hear far too often about customers and colleagues who have been impacted by Prostate Cancer. We’re really proud to have completed The Big Golf Race, and to have raised money for a cause that means a lot to us
“It was a great day with a lot of laughs and a lot of walking. We’re sore, sunburnt, and slightly broken, but knowing we’ve raised money for such an important cause made every step worth it. We’re really grateful for all the support we received, and it made a big difference and kept us going right to the final hole.”
Brian Storey, Secretary, from Houghton Le Spring Golf Club, said: “When Rhys approached us with the idea, we didn’t hesitate. We’ve seen firsthand how prostate cancer touches families in our community, and knowing a number of members who have experienced the illness themselves, offering the course was the least we could do. I’m glad to see they made the most of it and raised a fantastic sum.”
Dr Matt Hobbs, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Over the years, golfers have played a massive part in enabling us to launch research projects like TRANSFORM, which aims to definitively show the best way to screen men for prostate cancer, and in doing so providing earlier diagnoses, and saving thousands of lives a year.
“Every year we’re blown away by the response to The Big Golf Race, and we’re delighted that it’s now the biggest fundraising challenge in golf. That’s in no small part down to our inspirational army of golfing supporters, who turn out in their thousands every summer to raise life-changing amounts of money for Prostate Cancer UK."