St Mellions golfers in marathon challenge
21/05/2015
** L-r: David Moon, Ben Waters. Darren Gass & Ross Whitelock
Six hardy golfers are set to play right through the night, in a 24-hour charity golf marathon at St Mellion International Resort next month.
Among them will be the husband and father of 35-year old Davida Gass, who passed away in November 2014 after battling pancreas and liver cancer
The unusual event starts at 6pm on Tuesday 23rd June, on the First Tee of the resort’s Kernow Course, a former European Tour host venue.
Play will continue non-stop for 24 hours, with the final 18 holes on the resort’s world-famous Nicklaus Signature Course. Spectators are being encouraged, and collections are being made both before, during and after the event for the CLIC Sargent charity.
Night Golf equipment, including glowing golf balls and light sticks, will be used as darkness falls.
Davida’s father, ex-Aston Villa football legend Allan Evans, will play in the event which has been organised by PGA golf Professional Darren Gass, Davida’s husband, who is in his 16th year at the resort and currently heads up the coaching academy there.
Also joining them will be David Moon, PGA pro and Golf Manager at St Mellion and the resort’s Head PGA Pro Ben Waters, plus St Mellion PGA pros Jason Avery and Ross Whitelock.
With this event Darren, Allan and their friends aim to raise over £10,000 for CLIC Sargent, the charity for children with cancer.
Five years before Davida was herself diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2013, the Gass family was rocked when they learnt that their baby son Foster, aged only three months at the time, had a life-threatening tumour.
Over the years that followed, both the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital and CLIC Sargent provided superb care and support for the parents, as Foster went through prolonged and gruelling treatment.
Happily Foster, who had initially been given just a 20% chance to live, is now an energetic 7-year old boy, and Davida Gass subsequently threw herself into supporting CLIC Sargent by way of thanks.
On 21st November 2014, Davida Gass lost her fight with the disease, and her family and friends have pledged to continue her work to raise funds for the charity.
“Davida showed incredible courage while Foster was going through his treatment, and she showed the same strength when she was faced with her own individual challenge” said Gass, 39. “CLIC Sargent was very precious to her, so I urge as many people as possible to donate to our page on JustGiving, which can be found at www.justgiving.com/Davida-Gass/.
“We’ve had unbelievable support from the team at St Mellion, and all of its members too. We really could not have asked for better support from the resort, over the last few years. We’re looking forward to seeing a nice crowd as we approach the final hole on June 24th!
“My son, Foster, will hole the final putt on the 18th green. The rest of us will probably be too tired to lift a putter by then!”
On behalf of St Mellion International Resort, David Moon said: “Darren and Davida’s dream was always to have a family, but almost immediately after their baby was born, life started to set them the most difficult challenges imaginable.
So while Gassy himself has been a rock for thousands of golfers at St Mellion over the years, this is a good time for everyone who knows him to show their gratitude, and to support him and the lads as they raise money for charity in Davida’s memory”.
For more details please contact David Moon at St Mellion on 01579 352006. The finale will be at 6pm on the final hole of the Nicklaus Course, and there will be an informal gathering in the Nicklaus Bar afterwards to which all are invited.
