Keepers of the Green (KOTG), an international golfing charity based in St Andrews, presented powered wheelchairs to 6 deserving residents from Fife, Edinburgh and the Lothians on Wednesday 17th July within The R&A Club Marquee at the Open Championship at Muirfield.
The Presentation Party included Keepers of the Green Patron, David Joy, assisted by R&A Captain, Pierre Bechmann.
This event follows a tradition of KOTG raising funds and securing sponsorship to improve the quality of life and mobility of selected individuals in the local area of Scotland where the Open is held.
Sponsors who donated powered wheelchairs for this year’s Open include The R&A, the Club Managers Association of America, Meetings Industry Meeting Needs, Portland Hotels, Penwortham Golf Club and David Mann of St Andrews.
The majority of recipients have been nominated by the Disabled Living Centre at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh.
Since its formation in 1995, KOTG’s extensive fundraising activities have resulted in life changing experiences for over 200 individuals. Its mission is to “promote the game of golf and to improve lives through powered mobility”.
KOTG Patron and golf historian, David Joy, best known as ‘the man who plays Tom Morris’, said: “Once again we are delighted to have secured such high levels of funding and sponsorship to enable us to provide 6 powered wheelchairs at this year’s Open. This will deliver so many benefits to those with severe mobility restrictions and help combat disability barriers.
“We are also indebted to The R&A for their continued support in facilitating wheelchair presentations at Open Championships which are held in Scotland.”
Chris McCoy, Equality and Diversity Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is preparing to welcome the world in 2014, when the country hosts Homecoming, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup. It is important that we provide the warmest of welcomes to everyone, no matter what their needs are. With this in mind, we hope this generous donation from Keepers of the Green will help to inspire businesses to think about those with access needs.”
Keepers of the Green www.keepersofthegreen.org