A Stevenage golf club has hosted a charity golf day for Brain Tumour Research in honour of a staff member who died from the disease.
More than 90 golfers were hoping for the perfect par as they teed off on Saturday (27th July) for a shotgun tournament at Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club.
Men’s captain, Les Ward, chose Brain Tumour Research to benefit from the event after losing two friends to the disease, including keen golfer, Alex Pendleton (pictured below), who became a valued member of staff, working in the club shop in 2017.
Alex – the twin brother of two-time medal-winning Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton – died from a glioblastoma (GBM) in June 2023. Around the same time, Les’ best friend lost his brother-in-law, Abelardo ‘Abe’ Megias Hernandez (pictured below), to the disease.
Les’ wife, Pat, worked at Design & Creative Services (dcs) where Alex was a graphic designer. She said: “Alex was extremely personable, great with people and well liked around the office when we worked together at dcs and once again when he joined the golf club as a member of staff. We were shocked to learn research into the disease receives such little research funding from the Government.”
The day included a two-course lunch, raffle and open auction, as well as a prize for the top three teams. It was the latest fundraising activity held by the golf club and its members as part of a year-long partnership, which has now raised more than £10,000.
Pat added: “It’s the men’s section captain’s most important day of the year. We are taking our job in raising awareness and funds for the brain tumour community seriously. More needs to be done to help improve the outcomes for people who are diagnosed, and their family members.”
To support the golfers’ fundraising, please donate via their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/peter-harris-1705431195116
(Pictured top, left to right: Abe's widow Susie, Les, Pat, Alex's wife Sarah, and Victoria)
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