Channel 5’s Dan Walker and former Masters champion Danny Willett teamed up for their first Walker vs Willett Golf Day at Rotherham Golf Club on July 27, raising over £50,000 for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Walker has hosted golf days to fundraise for The Children’s Hospital Charity since 2014, each year being joined by a different group of celebrity friends to compete for the trophy.
A total of 26 teams took part in the day, each including one member of the star-studded lineup, allocated randomly on the day. The lineup included Olympian Sam Quek, former professional goalkeeper David Seaman, Brian McFadden of Westlife, former professional footballers Ian Dowie, Dane Whitehouse, John Beresford, Rob Lee, Paul Dickov and Neil Cox, former professional cricketer John Morris, snooker’s Ken Doherty and retired champion jockey AP McCoy, as well as the Head Professional at Rotherham Golf Club, Nat Haywood.
The event raised over £50,000 in total for Sheffield Children’s, with an incredible £30,000 of that being raised through the auction held at the event.
Willett’s team were crowned the winners, which saw him taking home the coveted yellow Charity blazer. Every member of the team was rewarded with a bottle of wine provided by Walker.
Walker said: “We started off with a bit of rain, but the sun and the smiles came out and it was an amazing day. There is so much planning that goes into events like this – so many people give up their time and go the extra mile, but we are all happy to do that for Sheffield Children’s. It’s a very special place.
“When I see so many people coming together like this I feel so proud to be a patron, and Danny and I are delighted to have helped to raise so much money. Thank you to everyone involved – we already can’t wait for next year!”
The day ended with a Q&A session with Dan and Danny as well as an auction, all to raise funds for Sheffield Children’s, one of just three standalone children’s hospitals in the UK.
Rob Gurruchaga, Development Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Golf days are always great fun for all involved, and we’re so grateful for the support from everyone who took part, especially our fabulous patron Dan Walker, and Danny Willet, who organised the day “Events like this make a lasting impact, with previous golf days raising thousands of pounds to make sure the team at Sheffield Children’s has exactly what they need, when they need it, to deliver the best possible care for our patients and young people.”