Golf YouTuber Rick Shiels is marking the 2023 Open Championship by taking on another epic fundraising challenge for Prostate Cancer UK – this time on four wheels.
Shiels, who is the most-watched golf YouTuber, with a channel boasting over 2.5 million subscribers, will cycle 500km (310 miles) from St Andrews in Scotland to this year’s Open venue, Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.
The 36-year-old PGA Professional will traverse the challenging route on a bespoke two-seater golf cart over four days and will be joined by a host of famous golfing and YouTube faces, including Sky Sports Golf presenter Iona Stephen. The public will also have the chance to join Rick on various stretches of the journey.
Rick will set off after a few holes on the Old Course on Saturday, June 10, and will head southwest, finishing the day in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, over 125km (80 miles) away. He’ll then cross the border into England, completing day two at Carlisle Golf Club, before another 70-mile ride to the penultimate stop, Lancaster Golf Club.
The final day of Rick’s epic Tour will see him navigate the hills of Lancashire before he triumphantly crosses the finishing line at the Royal Liverpool, which hosts the 151st Open Championship this July.
The new challenge comes a year after Shiels raised £127,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by walking 150 miles from Prestwick Golf Course to St Andrews over six days, all while carrying his golf clubs on his back.
Rick will be raising money for Prostate Cancer UK during Men’s Health Week (June 13-19) and in the build-up to Father’s Day, where Prostate Cancer UK alongside supporter fundraising challenges is giving men the power to navigate the most common cancer in men by busting common myths and misconceptions, and sharing clear and accurate health information to help our dads, brothers, sons and mates make the right choices.
Rick said: “It’s no secret that The Open is one of my favourite tournaments, and I wanted to create an annual challenge to celebrate its amazing history. My feet didn’t agree at the time, but last year’s Walk 150 challenge was a fantastic way to kick it all off. However, anyone who knows me will know that I always want to go bigger, better and crazier, and that’s where this year’s Cycle 500 challenge was born.
“Cycling across Scotland and Northwest England on a golf cart ‘bike’ will pose as an entirely different challenge and I’m sure in some ways it’ll be even tougher, but I’m excited to be joined by some of my good friends from golf and YouTube, raising more money for an excellent cause, Prostate Cancer UK.
“Last year it was so inspiring to read all the amazing messages from men affected by prostate cancer and their families, thanking me for what I was doing, but it also highlighted why raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK is so important, especially as it’s Men’s Health Week too during the challenge.
“Prostate Cancer UK is making a real impact, especially through golf, and I’m delighted to be doing my bit again and shining a spotlight on the disease, which is still impacting the lives of too many men across the UK.”
Rick’s Cycle 500 challenge is part of a bumper programme of summer golfing activity from Prostate Cancer UK, which is headed by its flagship golf fundraiser, The Big Golf Race. The epic challenge, which has seen over 7,500 golfers raise over £2 million since 2020, invites golfers to take on 72 or 36 holes in a day and raise money to help beat the most common cancer in men.
Prostate Cancer UK is also the official charity partner of the 2023 Betfred British Masters, taking place from June 28 to July 2 at The Belfry, as well as a long-term partner of The PGA.
Nicola Tallett, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK said: “Golf has been so influential in spreading the word about prostate cancer, but sadly as it effects one in eight men in the UK, this disease is still present in every golf club. We need to continue to drive home this serious message and ensure that in every club house there are conversations about prostate cancer, and Rick is playing a massive part in that by using his platform to reach so many golfers during Men’s Health Week.
“Rick’s Walk 150 challenge last year inspired us all, and we’re hugely grateful that he’s pledged to support us again. We initially invited him to take on The Big Golf Race, but he wanted to go even bigger and create his own unique challenge and the impact he’s had has been fantastic, with the money he’s raised going towards life-saving research and supporting men affected by prostate cancer and their families. We wish Rick, and his friends joining him along the way, all the best and we look forward to welcoming him across the finish line.”
To sponsor Rick on his Cycle 500 challenge, go to justgiving.com/page/cycle500.