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Charity Golf Classic 2009

Charity Golf Classic launches new Charity

Celebrities and teams will head to Parque da Floresta on the 9th July to participate in the annual event, now renamed the Charity Golf Classic and to be broadcast on Sky Sports.

This year it is being held in aid of the Paul Southgate Research Fund. The fund was established in memory of Paul, a former president of Parque da Floresta, who sadly passed away in June 2008. The charity is dedicated to raising vital funds for research into head and neck cancer and cancers affecting children and young adults. These are cancer types that are significantly underfunded and poorly studied compared to other cancers.

This prestigious golfing event is a fantastic way to enjoy one of Portugal’s finest golf courses while raising essential funds for charity. Golf enthusiasts will socialise and play alongside celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment in the four day programme and two-day golf competition. It will take place from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th July and will consist of 20 teams of three players with each team being joined by a different celebrity each day.

Celebrities who have already confirmed their attendance include actor and funny man Bradley Walsh, TV presenter Ben Shephard, ex footballer and TV presenter Bob Wilson OBE, actors Jamie Bamber and Johnny Briggs MBE, ex footballer Steve Bull MBE, Rugby World Cup winners Jason Leonard MBE and Kyran Bracken MBE and singer Gareth Gates, to name but a few.

The Charity Golf Classic follows in the footsteps of the Safe Hands Charity Golf Classic, organised by Debbie Seaman, and provides much needed funds to support various charities . Previous recipients have been the NSPCC, the Willow Foundation, the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, the Rhys Daniels Trust and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Funds for these charities have totalled in excess of £900,000!

2009 will be the first year that the Charity Golf Classic is supporting the Paul Southgate Research Fund, which will raise money for critical research at University College London (UCL). 5000 people in the UK each year are diagnosed with head and neck cancers which accounts for approximately 5% of all cancers diagnosed. Only 50% of patients survive for 5 years. Unfortunately the survival rate has not significantly increased in over a decade. This is why more money for research at UCL’s cancer initiative is so desperately needed. Funds raised will be used to characterise genetic abnormalities, to study the genetic basis of head and neck cancers and to identify potential novel drug targets in cancers affecting children and young adults.

Debbie Seaman comments:

‘I am delighted to be supporting the Paul Southgate Research Fund and am honoured to be launching this at the Charity Golf Classic 2009. Paul was a friend of mine and many others at the resort and as an avid golfer has supported the event in the past, even winning the Texas Scramble in our first year! I fondly referred to him as the ‘Cheeky Chappie’ because of his London roots and fun loving personality. Paul’s widow Lynne has established the fund as a tribute to him and it is my privilege to help her raise awareness and funds in his memory’.

Fore more information contact: Victoria Duarte on +351 282 690 021
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