Team PGA to deliver marathon effort for Prostate Cancer UK

07/04/2021

The PGA is delighted to be continuing its work with Prostate Cancer UK and today launches Team PGA, with PGA professionals and golfers taking on the charity’s fundraiser The Big Golf Race, across the summer, in an effort to beat a disease killing one man every 45 minutes in the UK.

By extending its partnership with Prostate Cancer UK the Association will be working with its members to take on Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race. Aimed at golfers of all abilities including PGA pros, The Big Golf Race challenges them to raise money by completing a golfing Marathon or Half Marathon – four or two rounds respectively - in a day.

The challenge will raise funds to improve the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated, but also engage Association members with a disease disproportionately affecting themselves and their members.

Men over 50, black men and men with a family history of the disease are at higher risk of prostate cancer. And with the average age of the PGA Membership 49 years old, the partnerships further highlights exactly why the link-up between the Association and Prostate Cancer UK is especially symbiotic.

“Promoting the health and wellbeing of our Members is a top priority and Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race challenge allows our Members to raise money while at the same time engaging with golfers and their communities on this vital subject,” said Richard Barker, The PGA’s Executive Director – Business Development.

“We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Prostate Cancer UK for a further three years and we look forward to supporting them to help beat the most common cancer in men. The Big Golf Race will be key in helping us do this.”

“We’re encouraging PGA Pros to promote this great idea at their clubs and help their members to take part,” Barker added. “And it doesn’t stop with club members – it would be fantastic to see as many Pros as possible getting involved.

“To that end we have created the Team PGA Big Golf Race Challenge and are inviting PGA staff, PGA Members and their golf club membership to join individual fundraising pages together to contribute to the total fundraising goal.

“The money raised by this challenge will help fund research into life-saving work to develop new ways to diagnose and treat prostate cancer, while also providing practical support for men and their families.”

Matt Holdstock, Sport Engagement Manager at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re excited at the launch of Team PGA and further developing our relationship with The PGA and their membership.

“Now more than ever the PGA Professional’s influence is central to the running of golf clubs and their communities. They are in a great position to help us build a strong team to beat prostate cancer, a disease killing one man every 45 minutes in the UK – the time it takes, on average, to play three holes of golf.

“Thanks to The PGA our Big Golf Race will be even bigger this summer. We look forward to Team PGA putting in a marathon effort to help beat prostate cancer and keeping more golfers in the game for longer.”

In addition to its partnership with The PGA, Prostate Cancer UK is enlisting the help of elite players such as 2016 US Masters champion Danny Willett, golf creators on YouTube, and media partners Bunkered, Golf Monthly and HowDidiDo to get its message across to golfers.

Willett, an Honorary PGA Member as a result of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup, commented: “I’m delighted two of the organisations I’m associated with are continuing the fight against prostate cancer - the most common cancer in men.

“PGA professionals do all sorts of different roles which puts them in touch with golfers we are trying to reach.

“Whether that’s choosing Prostate Cancer UK as their charity of choice like me, engaging their community in The Big Golf Race or simply sharing lifesaving health awareness. There’s lots we can do.”