Four friends, all of whom have been affected by cancer, have completed a 72-hole golf challenge in one day to raise funds for Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support and Macmillan.
Jack Knight, Lewis Harvey, Sam Phillips and Ryan Sellick undertook the feat at Honiton Golf Club in June and have raised a total of £2,223 for the two charities.
The friends all shared their motivations for doing the challenge. Jack said, “In the last two years cancer has affected my family a lot. My Grandad passed away from lung cancer, shortly after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through intensive chemotherapy and intensive radiotherapy. During that my Nan and my mum were both diagnosed with breast cancer and went through radiotherapy (thankfully not chemotherapy as well). Through all of this Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support have been amazing with support for all 3 of them and they continue to support them with their recovery. I am going to do as much fundraising as possible in the future with different challenges and this golf challenge is the beginning.”
Sam added, “I’m choosing to do this challenge because Macmillan is such a great charity that will of helped all of our friends and families at some point in our lives. My grandad passed away with cancer when I was much younger, he was my right-hand man, used to take me out fishing every weekend so when we lost him it left a massive hole in my heart. Macmillan helped all the way from his diagnosis to his final moments so I feel it is important to raise as much money as we can for them to help.”
Lewis said, “I am taking part in this 72-hole challenge to help raise money for two very worthy charities. Cancer has not only taken loved ones of my own family but also more recently taken lives and effected the lives of my very closest friends. Charities like Macmillan and Axminster and Lyme cannot continue to give their support without funds raised. So, us 4 as a team would like to raise as much money as possible for these great charities with the help of your generous donations.”
Ryan added, “I have learned like the rest of us how destructive cancer can be to families, having lost both my Dad and Nan in recent years to the disease. But without the help of charities like Macmillan, that destructiveness could have been much worse. For me this challenge epitomises the relationship I had with my dad, an avid golfer he was, would be up there laughing at us with a Carling in hand watching us trying to hack our way through 4 rounds of golf in the space of 24 hours. Any donations are still truly appreciated.”
Mary Kahn from Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support expressed her gratitude for the four friends’ hard work and efforts. She said, “We are so grateful to all 4 friends, Jack, Lewis, Ryan and Sam, for their hard work and effort in completing this. We are amazed and grateful for the generosity of all their supporters. These funds will make a real difference to supporting those affected by cancer. Thank you.”
The four friends have raised an impressive £2,223 for Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support and Macmillan through their 72-hole golf challenge. Anyone wishing to contribute to the charity’s work or to fundraise in support of it can do so through their website: axminsterandlymecancersupport.co.uk/get-involved/fundraising/.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.