This glorious summer, golf players have been turning out in their droves to raise money for The ME Association – playing the fairways and links of a couple of England’s most picturesque courses.
As red skies framed the action shortly after dawn, the Tiegan Greenwood Charity Special set off for a long, hot day of play at Hagley Golf Club near Stourbridge in the West Midlands on Saturday last week (17th June).
While, down on the south coast, Will Wright and friends played the links for a two-charity event at the clifftop Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club on 31st May.
At Hagley, Wayne Greenwood and seven comrades started playing four complete rounds of the course – 72 holes – at 4.15am, finally calling it a very successful day at about 8.30pm.
Their event has raised well over £6,600 for The MEA so far with more still coming in from an online raffle for £750-worth of donated prizes.
Wayne led the charge for us because his 18-year-daughter Tiegan, who took ill half a lifetime ago when she was just nine, has very severe M.E. She’s now bedbound and requires round-the-clock care from Wayne and his wife Sue.
He was joined by friends,most of whom he’s known since schooldays in Halesowen – brothers Matt and Jon Greaves, Matthew Makin, Mark Gibbon, Peter Coyle and James Moreton and by the father of Tiegan’s best friend, Jason Marston.
“We had a fantastic day and were really lucky with the weather”, said Wayne. “Thanks, lads! I really couldn’t have done it without you.”
At the Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club, Will Wright and his friends set themselves a 100-hole challenge at the end of last month.
They teed off at 5.44am – keeping up a cracking pace before storming to a finish at 2.04pm. They covered 27.5 miles in nine hours and 20 minutes and raised over £2,200, which they’ve split between The MEA and Opal Webster-Philp’s South Coast-based ME/CFS Alliance Think Tank.
“We had an overwhelmingly successful day. So pleased with the way it went”, said Will afterwards.
Will has his golf down to a fine art, playing off a handicap of five. He was supported by mates he’s also known for years: Will Barnes, Tom Clifton and Sam Boreham. It’s Sam who's had M.E. since failing to recover from labyrinthitis in November 2021.
Thank you both for organising these events! They combined enjoyment, skill, endurance and passion for the sport. Perfect!
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Consultant, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
