A record-breaking golf day held in memory of a Reading man has raised £7,000 for Sue Ryder. The annual event took the overall total raised in tribute to James Sturgess past a wonderful £30,000.
Mark Sturgess organised the day to honour his brother James, who received special care from Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice. The fourth annual event welcomed 76 golfers and many local supporters for an evening of live music, a barbecue, and an auction. The generous support will help Sue Ryder continue to provide care for local people facing terminal illness, as well as offer vital bereavement support to families.
Event Grows Beyond Expectations
Mark said the event on July 24 had grown far beyond anything he first imagined. He said: “It means everything to me because the golf days mean I get to speak about James, his journey, the type of person he was and what he went through. But I also get to talk about what Sue Ryder did for us.”
“It wasn’t just at the hospice, they came out into the community to support us as well. They allowed James to make memories, and that’s my driving force behind it – to give other families that opportunity to have those long-lasting memories.”
Nine Years of Fundraising Evolution
The event evolved over nine years of fundraising, which began with football matches and running challenges before turning into the popular golf day. This year’s total was nearly £2,000 higher than the previous record.
Mark said: “To have raised over £7,000 is unbelievable. That’s a massive record for us. I think we raised about £100 at our very first charity event, so to have now gone past £30,000 altogether is incredible.”
Plans for Next Year Already Underway
Planning is already starting for next year’s event on July 23, 2027, with hopes to attract even more players and community businesses. Mark hopes to welcome even more people to build on this year's success.
Mark said: “The golf day has gone from strength to strength. The numbers are growing every year, the prizes have got better every year and the support we have from people who don’t even play golf but come and help on the day has grown massively.”
“I think people can see that we’re passionate about it. We raise as much money as we can, but we also provide a really good day for everyone, so they always want to come back every year.”
Anyone interested in fundraising for the charity can visit www.sueryder.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-us for more information. Supporters can also contact the Thames Valley team by emailing thamesvalleyfundraising@sueryder.org or calling 0118 9550 433.
