Golf Club's Year-Long Effort Nets Over £60,000 for Children's Hospices
In a remarkable display of community spirit, kind-hearted golfers at Gog Magog Golf Club in Shelford Bottom have been celebrated for their generosity after presenting a cheque exceeding £60,000 to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The funds were raised throughout 2025 under the leadership of last year’s Captain Mark Spears and Lady Captain Jules Routledge, who orchestrated a series of successful events.
Star-Studded Event and Diverse Activities
The fundraising highlight was a special day featuring former Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie, who shared captivating stories from his illustrious career. This showpiece event alone generated more than £50,000, drawing significant support from club members and guests. Beyond this, Mark and Jules’ efforts included a variety of activities such as Captain’s Days, a Mixed Open competition, and an Invitation Day where members could bring along guests.
Additionally, a Captain’s Dinner culminated in a fun round of midnight putting using illuminated balls, adding a playful twist to the fundraising. The pair ensured engagement by arranging monthly social functions, including a curry night, quiz, Motown night, and ‘nine and wine’ evenings, where participants enjoyed nine holes of golf followed by wine and pizza.
Community Involvement and Personal Connections
Further initiatives included a sale of second-hand golf clothing and a Christmas fayre where members sold homemade items, boosting the total raised. Mark expressed immense pride in the club’s efforts, stating, “The members are immensely generous people, and they were positive and supportive throughout. If they see something worth backing, they’ll go out of their way to help.”
Jules echoed this gratitude, emphasizing the importance of member participation: “It’s been great fun, but it wasn’t just a case of us having ideas and organising events. For them to be successful, we needed members to come along and support us, and that’s exactly what happened.” She also noted the role of favorable weather in enhancing the events.
The cause resonated deeply with the club due to a personal connection: Brad McLean, the general manager at Gog Magog, serves as EACH’s Chair of Trustees. As a bereaved father, he speaks openly about his family’s experiences with the hospice’s care, making the charity’s mission personal for many members.
Visiting the Hospices and Final Celebration
To strengthen their commitment, Mark and Jules visited EACH’s hospices in Milton, Cambridgeshire, and The Nook in Norfolk. Mark reflected, “I learnt so much about the support provided and realise it’s not just about end-of-life care. Visiting the hospices gave us an extra spur and added motivation to raise as much as we possibly could.”
The fundraising culminated in a special celebration at the club on Thursday, where a cheque was presented to EACH Chief Executive Kevin Clements. Kevin expressed heartfelt thanks, saying, “They joined forces to raise a phenomenal amount of money, and it was a privilege to hear more about their fantastic efforts. These funds will make a real difference to the children and families receiving our care and support.”
This initiative showcases how a local golf community in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire can unite to support vital hospice services, demonstrating the power of collective generosity and fun-driven fundraising.
