Weymouth golfers raise money for Dorset County Hospital

Twenty-eight golfers took to the course at the Wessex Golf Centre in Weymouth and raised £1,200 for the special baby care unit at Dorset County Hospital as part of an annual fundraising day. 

Now in its fourth year, the golf fundraiser has previously raised money for the mental health charity Dorset Mind, Julia's House and the RNLI. 

This year it was decided to donate to the baby unit because of one of the participant's being 'closely affected' after their baby was at the unit. 

Golf fundraiser organiser Ritchie Rees from Chickerell (Image: Ritchie Rees)

Organiser of the fundraising event, Ritchie Rees, 32, from Chickerell, explained why he decided to start raising money for charity through the golf event.

He said: "I started playing golf in lockdown and I spoke to to a lot of people and it transpired a lot of them played golf and it started as a way to get people playing together.

"I thought it would be a good idea to do an event and raise money. I have always been a keen fundraiser.

"We choose a different charity every year and this year one of the people I play with needed the unit and we thought it would be a good idea to raise the money for that this year as he has been closely affected."

Players paid a £35 entry fee to play two nine hole rounds which also included breakfast, and money left over from he kitty was donated to the baby unit. 

But it was the generosity of local businesses that 'overwhelmed' Ritchie after receiving lots of donations for the raffle which also held to raise money. 

He said: "We had a raffle and closest to the pin competition but I was just so overwhelmed by the raffle donations, there were so many prizes not only the players but friends and families bought tickets as well."

Winners of the golf fundraising competition at Wessex Golf Centre in Weymouth, John Clancy and Sam Cracknell (Image: Ritchie Rees) Ritchie is continuing to raise money for charity, something he is passionate about and is currently raising money for prostate cancer by running 1.5 miles a day. 

He added: "The golf event was a good reason to get people together and a good way to raise money for charities and those who are less fortunate.

"I do Movemeber every year and at the minute I am running 1.5 miles a day for prostate cancer. 

" I am hoping to raise a couple quid, I never set the targets to high as I know it's tough for everybody."