Staffs stalwarts tee up for Gallacher campaign

A talented line-up of past schoolboy internationals and county champions will return to their old stamping ground at Wolstanton Golf Club to help it raise funds for a life-saving defibrillator.

The golfers will join existing juniors in a special fundraising competition against a select team of adult members of the Staffordshire club in support of the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign which was launched last December with the aim of installing one of the devices in every golf club in the UK.

Among those taking part are former county champions and England schoolboy internationals Robert Maxfield, (above centre), Paul Sweetsur (left), David Walley (right) and Bruce McFarlaine while Welsh international Samantha Birks will also tee it up.

The idea for the match play betterball event came from the club’s senior section and it also ties in with celebrating the contribution of Les Hancock who has been junior organiser at the club for 45 years.

The event will take place on Bank Holiday, Monday, May 5 and other clubs in the area will be invited to attend. Caroline Holmes, a representative from Arrhythmia Alliance – the charity backing the campaign and raising the profile of sudden cardiac arrest which nearly claimed Gallacher’s life, is set to attend and present one of the defibrillators to Wolstanton.

Bert Maxfield, the club’s former president, said: “The beauty of this is that we are bringing ex-juniors back from other clubs and spreading the word about the importance of having a defibrillator at every club.

“We are also writing to other local clubs telling them why we are doing it and also inviting them to send a representative along on the day.”

The senior section is raising a third of the money, the club is donating a third and the competition will raise the remaining third.

Already more than 60 clubs from across the UK have signed up to the Gallacher campaign which encourages clubs to stage a fundraising competition to purchase one of the devices.

Other Midland clubs already on board include iconic Ryder Cup venue, The Belfry, Great Barr, Breedon Priory and Glen Gorse.

Arrhythmia Alliance has a special website with information and fundraising ideas which can be accessed at www.defibssavelives.org while the deadline for clubs to register with the campaign which will help them receive a discount on the defibrillator and special training on its use, has been extended until April 30.