CHARITY golfers are returning to the fairways for an annual event that has raised close to £200,000 for charity.
Teams are being urged to sign up for the Heritage Healthcare Charity Golf Day that every year raises thousands of pounds for St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington.
For the past 14 years, director Sally Pickersgill has organised the day to support the work of the much-loved hospice.
Mrs Pickersgill and Landteam boss Adrian Speare decided to launch the initiative in 2002 because St Teresa’s had no in-patient beds then and people had to travel out of the area for anything other than hospice day care.
St Teresa’s Hospice now features a newly opened ten bed in-patient unit with peerless facilities and services for people from Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire and support for their families.
Fundraisers have to find £2.7m a year to keep the hospice operating and the annual golf day is one of the top events in the calendar so far realising more than £180,000.
The popular event will be staged at Blackwell Golf Club, Darlington, from 9am to 3pm on September 2.
Teams are being urged to sign up for the event with four player rounds costing £200 and tee sponsorship available for £150.
The day also includes competitions and an evening prize presentation that will feature an auction and raffle, for which organisers are still looking for prizes.
Last year the event raised £17,200 bringing the grand total to £184,000 and putting the magic £200,000 within grasp.
Sally said: “The golf day remains a fabulous event where we meet up with friends old and new for such a great cause.
“St Teresa’s Hospice has come such a long way over the decades and we are proud to support such an amazing organisation that does so much for patients and their families.”
Chief executive Jane Bradshaw added: “The golf day is a very important event for us and we are always very grateful to Sally, her husband Glenn and everyone at Heritage Healthcare.
“As we celebrate 30 years of working in this wonderful community, continued support like this has never been so important so that we can maintain and develop further the facilities and services we offer to the area.”
Anyone wanting to take part or offer sponsorship, auction or raffle prizes should contact sally@fairwaysgsp.co.uk.