Golf day raises more than £25,000 for children’s cancer charity

The 30th annual CALM Charity Golf Day has raised thousands of pounds for a Swindon children's cancer charity.

31 teams took part in the event at Wrag Barn Golf Course near Highworth in June, supporting the Children's Cancer And Leukaemia Movement (CALM).

CALM has supported children and families in Swindon and the surrounding area since it was set up by a group of parents in 1984. The charity celebrated its 40 anniversary last year and has now reached another significant milestone.

This year's competition was CALM's 30th annual golf day and it was a huge success, raising more than £25,000.

The Deputy Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Neil Hopkins, performed a ceremonial tee off before the 124 golfers took to the course. Each team completed a 9 hole Texas Scramble in the morning, before an 18 hole Bowmaker in the afternoon.

Ahead of the evening prize giving ceremony, 22 year old Ruby Coward from Swindon gave a heartfelt speech on how CALM supported her during her cancer journey. Ruby was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, cancer tumours in both eyes 20 years ago, when she was just 15 months old.

She received chemotherapy treatment and care from consultants at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, John Radcliffe in Oxford and Swindon's Great Western Hospital. She is fit and well now and has managed to keep both of her eyes.

Much of the money raised came in the form of sponsorship with RPS Group, Imagine Cruising and First Choice Ireland being the headline supporters. Dozens of local companies sponsored individual holes or donated raffle prizes and auction lots.

A team from Muscat & Co, led by captain Len Muscat won the CALM Charity Team Challenge Trophy and the top prize of a golfing holiday to Ireland. Angela Perry was the leading lady, with Matt Simpkins winning the John Lyford Memorial Trophy as the individual champion.

Richard Crowley, the Chairman of CALM, said: "We're blown away with the support for our 30th annual golf day, to raise £25,000 in one day was beyond our wildest expectations. We're so grateful for all the amazing business sponsorship and for the generosity of all the golfers who dug deep on the day to bolster the final figure.

"As many people know, it's becoming increasingly difficult for charities to attract sponsorship and participants for events like this, but this year's golf day bucked the trend for us. The day wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our CALM committee volunteers and the support of Matt, Nick and Newman Floyd.

"The money raised will support our convalescent holiday programme, allowing children to enjoy a holiday break with their family in between hospital appointments for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other cancer treatments."

The Children's Cancer And Leukaemia Movement (CALM) has been supporting children and families affected by cancer in the Swindon area for more than four decades. The charity provides financial assistance, peer support, social events, day trips and convalescent holidays.

CALM has no paid staff and is run by parents on a purely voluntary basis, but has to raise almost £100,000 a year to sustain its activities.

You can find out more about the Children's Cancer And Leukaemia Movement at https://calmcharity.org