Next week will see eight men take on the challenge of playing golf for 24 hours in Norway as part of a charitable campaign to raise funds to buy a Paragolfer, a machine that enables wheelchair users to play golf standing up.
Led by Cae Menai-Davis, founder of the Golf Trust, the Project 24 team will tee off at Lofoten Links in Norway at midday on June 20 and play for 24 hours with the aim of raising at least £24,000.
The team of players includes a few well-known names in the world of golf and several individual and corporate supporters of The Golf Trust, including Adam Baker (PGA Member and Golf Trust co-ordinator); Eddy Foggy (Laureus/Sport for Good); Geoff Swain (Golfunplugged); Glenn Stevens (Hiscox UK); Liam Harrison (Golf Mates); Luke Barden (Warner Hotels); and Thomas Morgan (British Gas).
A new addition to The Project 24 line up is Rory MacFaden of apparel company Reflo, who will also be providing the team kit when the golfers hit the fairway at midday on June 20. During the 24-hour period there will be live challenges to watch on social media @thegolftrust and several exciting announcements made live from Lofoten Links in Norway, where the challenge is taking place.
“This sounds like a lot of fun, but it is going to be tough,” said Menai-Davis. “Thanks to the generosity of several sponsors, golfers and Paragolfer users, we’re already on our way to raising enough money for one Paragolfer, but I hope that people will get behind us once the golf is underway. Every penny we raise will make a massive difference and help us give more wheelchair users access to the sport.”
As well as raising money to buy a Paragolfer chair, the challenge also aims to raise awareness of disability in the UK. Over 16 million UK residents have a disability. A large proportion have little or no access to recreational sport and golf already fills that gap for many people.
Ayuna Berbidaeva is one of those people. She started playing golf through The Golf Trust last year and hopes that more people can have access to a Paragolfer. “Discovering the Paragolfer was life changing for me,” she explains. “I had never played golf before, and I hadn’t stood up for over 2 years! I love playing golf so much and the joy it brings me is something I wish more wheelchair users could experience. I wish Cae and the team all the very best of luck with their incredible challenge.”
Anyone interested in donating to the Project 24 fund can do so here:
www.justgiving.com/campaign/thegolftrustproject24