Charities benefited by more than £14,000 from the third annual Swing for Sammy golf day at Muswell Hill in north London last summer. The total now raised by the event, in memory of Samantha Trow (née St John) who died of bowel cancer, aged 26, in February 2008, exceeds £47,000.
The star turn of the day was the trick-shot show laid on by Jeremy Dale at the end of play. Jeremy also entertained participants throughout the day by ‘matching’ everyone’s drive off the 10th tee – in his case smacking the ball left-handed off a 3ft high tee.
Team Urban Elk – otherwise known as Matt Jones, Steve Ferris, Laurence Knott and Jem Butcher (pictured in their Ukko shirts) – were the winners with a monumental 96 Stableford points. Second place, one point behind the winners, went to Hugo Lavell, Peter Pizzey, Neil Hobbs and Laurie Nicoll of nearby Hendon Golf Club, while another Muswell Hill combination – Bill Carey, Mandy Miller, David and Kate Kavanagh – were third on 94 points. Leading pro was Muswell Hill assistant Alastair Bennett with a gross 73 while the ladies’ prize went to Mandy Miller for her tally of 40 points.
The following payments were made from the proceeds: £2,500 to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation for brain cancer research (administered by Cancer Research UK); £2,300 to St Mark’s Hospital Foundation for bowel cancer research; £1,000 to the Hospice in the Weald; £1,000 to the Royal Marsden Hospital (Oak Ward Fund); and just over £7,200 for Cancer Research UK.
Support was forthcoming from numerous golf equipment and apparel manufacturers, travel companies and golf clubs (both near and far). Donations were deployed as competition prizes, auction items or raffle prizes, while several companies, and at least half a dozen Muswell Hill members, also sponsored a hole on the day.
Prior to the auction, Sabrina Sallis of Cancer Research UK gave an inspiring talk about the breakthroughs being achieved in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Anyone wishing to make a belated donation to Cancer Research UK can do so via www.justgiving.com/bentrow – it’s never too late.
For further information, email ptrow76780@aol.com