Two teams from Penrith are set to take on the Longest Day Golf Challenge and are aiming to raise £2,000 to support people affected by cancer.
The eight players from Penrith Golf Hub will play 72 holes on the longest day of the year, Wednesday June 21, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The group will make the challenge even tougher by playing the four rounds at four different courses – covering more than 23,000 yards – in around 15 hours. They will tee off at 4.30am at Carlisle Golf Club before heading to Appleby Golf Club for 9.20am, then on to Penrith Golf Club for 1.30pm before playing Keswick Golf Club at 6pm.
The group were inspired to compete in the charity challenge following the cancer diagnosis of their friend and colleague, Nick Sharples, three years ago. To-date they have raised £1,485 towards the target.
Emily Ingham, Penrith Golf Hub manager, said: “Nick was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May 2020, during lockdown, aged just 27. Fortunately, following surgery and chemotherapy, he has since been given the all-clear. Although he didn’t need Macmillan’s support, he is passionate about raising awareness of cancer and also vital funds for such a great charity.”
The teams consist of Penrith Golf Hub directors Lee Edwards and Andrew Pickering, Emily, and PGA professionals Nick and Mike Newton. They will play alongside Cumbria county captain Simon Young, and county players Will Bowe and Gareth Richardson.
Macmillan’s Longest Day Golf Challenge, which is now in its 23rd year, encourages teams of friends to play four rounds of golf in 24 hours. The top four fundraising teams from across the country will then get the chance to win a free trip to Portugal to compete in the Longest Day Golf Challenge Finals.
To support the team’s fundraising visit longestdaygolf.macmillan.org.uk/Team/number1ballingolf or longestdaygolf.macmillan.org.uk/Team/pgh
